The aim of this study was the reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary dynamics in time and space in Italy and Europe between February and June 2020. The cluster analysis showed that pure Italian clusters were observed mainly after the lockdown and distancing measures were adopted. Lineage B and B.1 spread between late January and early February 2020, from China to Veneto and Lombardy, respectively. Lineage B.1.1 most probably evolved within Italy and spread from central to south Italian regions, and to European countries. The lineage B.1.1.1 entered Italy only in the second half of March and remained localized in Piedmont until June 2020. In conclusion, the reconstructed ancestral scenario suggests a central role of China and Italy in the widespread diffusion of the D614G variant in Europe in the early phase of the pandemic and more dispersed exchanges involving several European countries from the second half of March 2020.

Indigenous forests cover 24% of New Zealand and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, a national map of forest types, that is, physiognomic types, which would benefit conservation management, does not currently exist at an appropriate level of detail. While traditional forest classification approaches from remote sensing data are based on spectral information alone, the joint use of space-based optical imagery and structural information from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and canopy metrics from air-borne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) facilitates more detailed and accurate classifications of forest structure. We present a support vector machine (SVM) classification using data from ESA’s Sentinel-1 and 2 missions, ALOS PALSAR, and airborne LiDAR to produce a regional map of physiognomic types of indigenous forest in New Zealand. A five-fold cross-validation of ground data showed that the highest classification accuracy of 80.9% is achieved for bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, and 12 from Sentinel-2, the ratio of bands VH and VV from Sentinel-1, HH from PALSAR, and mean canopy height and 97th percentile canopy height from LiDAR. The classification based on the optical bands alone was 73.1% accurate and the addition of structural metrics from SAR and LiDAR increased accuracy by 7.8%. The classification accuracy is sufficient for many management applications for indigenous forest in New Zealand, including biodiversity management, carbon inventory, pest control, ungulate management, and disease management. National application of the method will be possible in several years, once national LiDAR coverage is achieved, and a national canopy height model is available.

Based on the key molecule of humoral adaptive immunity, the antibody, evolution of the system comprises molecular genetic, cell biologic and immunologic mechanisms, and as a network the system is likely governed and can be characterized by physical rules as well. While deep sequencing can provide vast amounts of data related primarily to clonal relationships, functional interpretation of such data is hampered by the inherent limitations of converting sequence to structure to function. In this paper a novel model of structural interaction space, termed radial adjustment of system resolution, or RADARS, is proposed. The model is based on the radial growth of resolution of structural recognition, corresponding to increasing affinity of immune reactivity, and the virtual infinity of directions of growth, corresponding to the ability to respond to almost any molecular structure. Levels of interaction strength appear as shells of the sphere representing the system. B-cell development and immune responses can be readily interpreted in the model and quantitative properties of the antibody network can be inferred from the physical properties of a quasi-spherical system growing multi-radially. The system is described by double-Pareto distribution, sampling the lognormally distributed equilibrium constants at a rate of phi square. Finally, general strategies for merging antibody sequence space into structural space are outlined.

In this paper, some new properties of the fundamental solution to the multi-dimensional space- and time-fractional diffusion-wave equation are deduced. We start with the Mellin-Barnes representation of the fundamental solution that was derived in the previous publications of the author. The Mellin-Barnes integral is used to get two new representations of the fundamental solution in form of the Mellin convolution of the special functions of the Wright type. Moreover, some new closed form formulas for particular cases of the fundamental solution are derived. In particular, we solve an open problem of representation of the fundamental solution to the two-dimensional neutral-fractional diffusion-wave equation in terms of the known special functions.

The main objective of this paper is to find a close link between the adaptive level of significance, presented here, and the sample size. We, statisticians, know of the inconsistency, or paradox, in the current classical tests of significance that are based on p-value statistics that is compared to the canonical significance levels (10%, 5% and 1%): "Raise the sample to reject the null hypothesis" is the recommendation of some ill-advised scientists! This paper will show that it is possible to eliminate this problem of significance tests. The Bayesian Lindley's paradox – "increase the sample to accept the hypothesis" – also disappears. Obviously, we present here only the beginning of a possible prominent research. The intention is to extend its use to more complex applications such as survival analysis, reliability tests and other areas. The main tools used here are the Bayes Factor and the extended Neyman-Pearson Lemma.

Leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein1 (LRG1) is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family that was implicated in multiple diseases including cancer, aging and heart failure as well as diabetes and obesity. LRG1 plays a key role in diet-induced hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance by mediating the crosstalk between adipocytes and hepatocytes. LRG1 also promotes hepatosteatosis by upregulating de novo lipogenesis in the liver and suppressing fatty acid β oxidation. In this study, we investigated the association of LRG1 with obesity markers including leptin and other adipokines in adolescents (11-14 years; n=425). BMI-for-age classification based on WHO growth charts was used to define obesity. Plasma LRG1 was measured by ELISA while other markers were measured by multiplexing assay. Median (IQR) of LRG1 levels was higher in obese [30 (25, 38) µg/mL] and overweight [30 (24, 39) µg/mL] adolescents, compared to normal-weight participants [27 (22, 35) µg/mL]. The highest tertile of LRG1 had an OR [95%CI] of 2.55 [1.44, 4.53] for obesity. LRG1 was positively correlated to plasma levels of HsCRP (R=0.2), Leptin (R=0.2) and Chemerin (R=0.24) with p<0.001. Additionally, it was positively associated with plasma level of IL6 (R=0.17) and IL10 (R=0.14) but not TNF-α. In conclusion, LRG1 levels are increased in obese kids and associate with increased levels of adipogenic markers. These results suggest the usefulness of LRG1 as an early biomarker for obesity and its related pathologies in adolescents.

Aegilops columnaris Zhuk. is tetraploid grass species (2n=4x=28, UcUcXcXc) closely related to Ae. neglecta and growing in Western Asia and a western part of the Fertile Crescent. Genetic diversity of Ae. columnaris was assessed using C-banding, FISH, nuclear and chloroplast (cp)DNA analyses, and gliadin electrophoresis. Cytogenetically Ae. columnaris was subdivided into two groups, C-I and C-II, showing different karyotype structure, C-banding and FISH patterns. Group C-I was more similar to Ae. neglecta. All types of markers revealed significant heterogeneity of the C-II group, although group C-I was also polymorphic. Two chromosomal groups were consistent with plastogroups identified in a current study based on sequencing of three chloroplast intergenic spacer regions. The similarity of group C-I of Ae. columnaris with Ae. neglecta and their distinctness from C-II indicate that divergence of the C-I group was associated with minor genome modifications. Group C-II could emerge from C-I relatively recently, probably due to introgression from another Aegilops species followed by a reorganization of the parental genomes. Most C-II accessions were collected from the very narrow geographic region, and they might originate from a common ancestor. We suggest that the C-II group is at the initial stage of species divergence and undergoing an extensive speciation process.

In the paper the new, fractional order, state space model of a heat transfer in a one- 1 dimensional metallic rod is addressed. The fractional orders of derivative along space and time 2 are not exactly known and they are described by intervals. The proposed model is the interval 3 expanding of the state space fractional model of the one dimensional heat transfer. It is expected to 4 better describe the reality because interval order of each real process is hard to estimate. Elementary 5 properties of the proposed model are analysed. Theoretical results are experimentally validated using 6 data from real experimental laboratory system.

Subgrid scale models for unresolved turbulent fluxes are investigated with a focus on combustion for space propulsion applications. An extension to the gradient model is proposed, introducing a dependency on the local burning regime. The dynamic behavior of the model's coefficients is investigated, and scaling laws are studied. The discussed models are validated using a DNS database of a high-pressure turbulent fuel-rich methane-oxygen diffusion flame. The operating point and turbulence characteristics are selected to resemble those of modern combustors for space propulsion applications to support the future usage of the devised model in this context.

The background of this work is related to the scheduling of household appliances, taking into account variations in energy costs during the day, due to official Brazilian domestic tariffs: constant and white. The white tariff can reach an average price of around 17\% lower than the constant, but charges twice its value at peak hours. In addition to cost reduction, we propose a methodology to reduce user discomfort due to time shifting of controllable devices, presenting a balanced solution through the analytical analysis of a new method here called tariff space, derived from white tariff posts. To achieve this goal, we explore the geometric properties of the movement of devices through the tariff space (geometric locus of the load), over which we can define a limited region in which the cost of a load under the white tariff will be equal to or less than the constant tariff. As a trial for the efficiency of this new methodology, we collected some benchmarks (such as execution time and memory usage) against a classic multi-objective algorithm (Hierarchical) available in the language portfolio in which the project has been executed (Julia language). As a result, both methodologies achieve similar results, but the one presented in this article shows a significant reduction in processing time and memory usage, which could lead to the future implementation of the solution in a simple, low-cost embedded system like an ARM cortex M.

We considered the hypothesis that the sources of dark energy (DE) could be black holes (BHs) or more exotic objects, such as naked singularities or gravastars. We proposed a definition of the presence of DE in the Universe and a criterion for what can be considered the source of this dark energy. It is based on the idea of the accelerated expansion of the Universe, which requires antigravity caused by large negative pressure. A recently proposed hypothesis was examined that mass of BHs increases with time according to the same law as the volume of the part of the Universe containing it and the population of BHs can mimic DE. We demonstrate the reasons why it cannot be accepted, even if all the assumptions on which this hypothesis is based are considered true.

NUSES is a pathfinder satellite project hosting two detectors: Terzina dedicated to the study of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) above 100 PeV and Zirè focused on the study of protons and electrons below 250 MeV and MeV gamma rays. This work concerns mainly the description of the Cherenkov camera, composed of SiPMs, for the Terzina telescope. Cherenkov light produced by extensive air showers induced by Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays in the atmosphere could be detected from space, thus ensuring huge exposures. The Terzina telescope is being designed to detect such light. It has an effective area of about 0.1 m2 and an equivalent focal length of about 930 mm with a diameter of the circle containing 80% of the photons of less than 1 mm2. The photo-detection plane is composed of 2×5 SiPM arrays with 8×8 channels of 3×3 mm2 pixels each. To increase the data-taking period NUSES orbit will be sun-synchronous (with a height of about 550 km), thus allowing Terzina to point always towards the dark side of the Earth’s limb. The sun-synchronous orbit requires small distances to the poles, and as a consequence the expected dose received by the SiPMs will be 10 Gy during three year of NUSES mission. About 70% of the integral dose is delivered by the electrons and secondary gammas created in the mechanical structure and about 30% from protons. This estimation is done with the Geant4 simulation of the preliminary telescope geometry, without taking into account solar wind protons. We study the SiPM photo sensors under the irradiation received by the 50 MeV protons up to 30 Gy of total integrated dose corresponding to 9 years of the satellite operation.

The differential-equation of second order for space-time oscillation in flat tangential-spacetime of Minkowski-type can be written as an energy-equation. For this energy-equation the analogon of damping energy in two coupled Minkoswki-spacetimes with ftl can be calculated and formulated over Lamberts W-function or via Euler-equation.

It is important that both static and dynamic information is efficiently used to create a suitable tourism plan. However, collecting, accumulating and managing dynamic information can cost tourists time, money and energy. The present study developed an original tourism support system was designed and developed with the purpose of reducing the burden of tourists who are unfamiliar with the tourist destinations in particular. An original tourism planning support system and web-geographic information systems (Web-GIS) were integrated into a single system, and two original functions were implemented. The system was operated targeting Osaka City, Japan for a period of one month. The information concerning 529 sightseeing spots was collected from tourism-related web media and then saved to the database of the system beforehand. During the operation period, a cumulative total of 160 users accessed the system. Based on the questionnaire survey results, most of the main functions were highly rated regardless of users’ travel experiences to the operation target area. Additionally, based on the access log analysis results, it was clear that the use of the system was in line with the purpose of the present study, as the number of visits to the page for the main functions were high.

Abstract: In the last five years, the urban development of Limassol City has rapidly increased in the sectors of industry, trade, real estate, and many others. This exponentially increased urban development introduces several concerns about the aggravation of the land subsidence in the Limassol coastal front. Fifty Copernicus Sentinel-1 data from 2017-2021 have been processed and analyzed using the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) and the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatters (StaMPS). A case study for the identification and analysis of the elements (PS) in pixels in a series of interferograms, and then, the quantity of the land displacements in the Line of Sight, in the Limassol coastal front, is presented in this research, with the subsidence rates up to about (-5 to 4 mm / year). For the validation of the detected deformation, accurate ground-based geodetic measurements along the coastal area were used. Concordantly, taking into account that there are a significant number of skyscrapers planned to be built, this study attempts a preliminary assessment of the impact these structures will pose on the coastal front of the area of Limassol.

During planetary exploration mission operations, one of the key responsibilities of the instrument teams to determine data viability for subsequent analysis. During the 2019 CanMoon Lunar Sample Return Analogue Mission, the Lead Raman Specialist manually examined each spectra to provide quality assurance/validation. This non-trivial process requires years of experience to complete accurately. With the proven efficacy of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in classification tasks, and the increased use of automation and control loops on planetary space platforms for navigation and science targeting, an opportunity presents itself to approach this validation problem utilising CNNs. We present the Generalised Raman Validation Network (GRaVN), an neural network focused specifically on extracting the generalised structure of Raman spectra for quality assurance/validation. This work demonstrates the viability of utilising a CNN network in validation activities for Raman spectroscopy. Utilising only two hidden layers, a configuration was developed that provided good levels of accuracy on a manually curated dataset. This indicates that such a system could be useful as part of an autonomous control loop during planetary exploration activities.

In the same way as the realization of some of the famous gedanken experiments imagined by the founding fathers of quantum mechanics has recently led to the current renewal of the interpretation of quantum physics, it seems that the most recent progresses of observational astrophysics can be interpreted as the realization of some cosmological gedanken experiments such as the removal from the universe of the whole visible matter or the cosmic time travel leading to a new cosmological standard model. This standard model involves two dark components of the universe, dark energy and dark matter. Whereas dark energy is usually associated with the cosmological constant, we propose to explain dark matter as a pure QCD effect, namely a gluonic Bose Einstein condensate, following the transition from the quark gluon plasma phase to the colorless hadronic phase. Our approach not only allows us to assume a ratio Dark/Visible equal to 11/2 but also provides gluons and (anti-)quarks with an extra mass of vibrational nature. Such an interpretation would comfort the idea that, apart from the violation of the matter/antimatter symmetry satisfying the Sakharov’s conditions, the reconciliation of particle physics and cosmology needs not the recourse to any ad hoc fields, particles or hidden variables.

We investigate the behavior of the partial derivative approach to the change of scale formula and prove relationships among the analytic Wiener integral and the analytic Feynman integral of the partial derivative for the function space integral.

Ocean big data is the scientific practice of using big data technology in the marine field. Data from satellites, manned spacecraft, space stations, airship, unmanned aerial vehicles, shore-based radar and observation stations, exploration platforms, buoys, underwater gliders, submersibles, and submarine observation networks are seamlessly combined into the ocean’s big data. Increasing numbers of scholars have tried to fully analyze the ocean’s big data. To explore the key research technology knowledge graphs related to ocean big data, articles between 1990 and 2020 were collected from the “Web of Science”. By comparing bibliometric software and using the visualization software Cite-Space, the pivotal literature related to ocean big data, as well as countries, institutions, categories, and keywords, were visualized and recognized. Journal co-citation analysis networks can help determine the national distribution of core journals. Co-citation analysis networks for documents show authors who are influential at key technical levels. Key co-occurrence analysis network keywords can determine research hot spots and research frontiers. The three supporting elements of marine big data research are shown in the co-citation network. These elements are author, institution, and country. By examining the co-occurrence of keywords, the key technology research directions for future marine big data were determined.

Emerging pollutants as pharmaceuticals have been focusing international attention for few decades. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a common drug widely found in effluents from hospitals, industrial and different wastewater treatment plants, as well as rivers. In this work, the lab-scale 3D-BER system was established, and more than 90% of the antibiotic CIP removal from the Low C/N wastewater. Best results were obtained with current intensity, and different C/N ratio significantly improve the removal of CIP and nitrates, when the ideal conditions were; C/N = 1.5-3.5, pH =7.0-7.5, and I = 60 mA. The highest removal efficiency of CIP = 94.20 %, NO3--N= 95.53 % and total nitrogen (TN) = 84.27 %, respectively. In this novel system, the autotrophic-heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria played vital role for the removal of CIP and enhanced denitrification process. Thus, autotrophic denitrifying bacteria uses CO2 and H2 as carbon sources to reduce nitrates to N2. This system has the assortment and prosperous community revealed at the current intensity of 60 mA, and the analysis of bacterial community structure in effluent samples fluctuates under different condition of C/N ratios. According to the results of LC-MS/MS analysis, the intermediate products were proposed after efficient biodegradation of CIP. Microbial community on biodegrading was mostly found at phylum, and class level was dominantly responsible for the NO3--N and biodegradation of CIP. This work can provide some new insights towards the biodegradation of CIP and the efficient removal of nitrates from low C/N wastewater treatment by the novel 3D-BER system.

Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) is a communication technology that supports various safety, mobility, and environmental applications given its higher reliability properties compared to other communication technologies. The performance of these C-V2X-enabled Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications is affected by the performance of the C-V2X communication technology (mainly packet loss). Similarly, the performance of the C-V2X communication is dependent on the vehicular traffic density which is affected by the traffic mobility patterns, and vehicle routing strategies. Consequently, it is critical to develop a tool that can simulate, analyze, and evaluate the mutual interactions of the transportation and communication systems at the application level and to the evaluate the benefits of the C-V2X enabled ITS applications. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits gained when using C-V2X Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication technology in an energy-efficient dynamic routing application. Specifically, we develop a Connected Energy-Efficient Dynamic Routing (C-EEDR) application using C-V2X as a communication medium in an integrated vehicular traffic and communication simulator (INTEGRATION). The results demonstrate that the C-EEDR application achieves fuel savings of up to 16.6% and 14.7% in the IDEAL and C-V2X communication cases, respectively for a peak hour demand on the downtown Los Angeles network considering a 50% level of market penetration of connected vehicles. The results demonstrate that the fuel savings increase with increasing levels of market penetration at lower traffic demand levels (25% and 50% the peak demand). At higher traffic demand levels (75% and 100%) the fuel savings increase with increasing levels of market penetration with maximum benefits at a 50% market penetration rate. Although the communication system is affected by the high density of vehicles at the high traffic demand levels (75% and 100% the peak demand), the C-EEDR application manages to perform reliably producing system-wide fuel consumption savings.The C-EEDR application achieves fuel savings of 15.2% and 11.7% for the IDEAL communication and 14% and 9% for the C-V2X communication at the 75% and 100% market penetration rates, respectively. Finally, the paper demonstrates that the C-V2X communication constraints only affect the performance of the C-EEDR application at the full demand level when the market penetration of connected vehicles exceeds 25%. This degradation, however is minimal (less than a 2.5% reduction in fuel savings).

In this paper, the forecast horizon and solar variability influences on MHFM model based on multiscale decomposition, AR and NN models, are studied. This article follows the works published in [1] showing the performance of the MHFM using 3 multiscale decomposition methods and a forecast horizon equal to 1 hour. Several forecast horizon strategies and his influence on the MHFM performances are investigated. We show that the best strategy for a rRMSE variying from $4.43\%$ to $10.24\%$ is obtained for forecast horizons from $5$ minutes to $6$ hours. In a second part, the solar variability influence on the MHFM is studied. A classification based on a shows that the best performance of MHFM is obtained for clear sky days with a rRMSE of $2.91\%$ and worst for cloudy sky days with a rRMSE of $6.73\%$.

It has been more than a century since Erlang published his paper in 1909. The classical queueing system for the M/D/c queue has been investigated by many authors. The key is to find the roots of an equation using explicit or numerical methods. We present an alternate form of explicit solution(s) of this/these root(s) using the Lambert-W function in this paper. In addition, the unsaturated probabilities of the number of customers in the system is derived explicitly in terms of this/these root(s). Finally, the mean number of customers in the system and the mean queueing delay are obtained from these probabilities. The exact queueing delay formula for the M/D/c queue is expressed in closed-form in terms of the root(s). Numerical results show that they are in excellent agreement with the numerical results published by Seelen, Tijms and Van Hoorn.

The identification and molecular characterization of cellular hierarchies in complex tissues is key to understanding both normal cellular homeostasis and tumorigenesis. The mammary epithelium is a heterogeneous tissue consisting of two main cellular compartments, an outer basal layer containing myoepithelial cells and an inner luminal layer consisting of estrogen receptor-negative (ER⁻) ductal cells and secretory alveolar cells (in the fully functional differentiated tissue) and hormone-responsive estrogen receptor-positive (ER⁺) cells. Recent publications have used single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis to decipher epithelial cell differentiation hierarchies in human and murine mammary glands, and reported the identification of new cell types and states based on the expression of the luminal progenitor cell marker KIT (c-Kit). These studies allow for comprehensive and unbiased analysis of the different cell types that constitute a heterogeneous tissue. Here we discuss scRNA-seq studies in the context of previous research in which mammary epithelial cell populations were molecularly and functionally characterized, and identified c-Kit⁺ progenitors and cell states analogous to those reported in the recent scRNA-seq studies.

In the paper, by convolution theorem for the Laplace transforms and analytic techniques, the author finds necessary and sufficient conditions for complete monotonicity, monotonicity, and inequalities of several functions involving polygamma functions. By these results, the author derives a lower bound of a function related to the sectional curvature of the manifold of the beta distributions. Finally, the author poses several guesses and open problems related to monotonicity, complete monotonicity, and inequalities of several functions involving polygamma functions.

Transition metal alloys have emerged as promising electrocatalysts due to their ability to modulate key parameters such as d-band electron filling, Fermi level energy, and interatomic spacing, thereby influencing their affinity towards reaction intermediates. However, the structural stability of alloy electrocatalysts during alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) remains a subject of debate. In this study, we systematically investigate the structural evolution and catalytic activity of the c-Co/Co3Mo electrocatalyst under alkaline HER conditions. We reveal that the instability of the Co3Mo alloy and H0.9MoO3 during alkaline HER leads to the destruction of the crystal structure, resulting in the formation of hexagonal cobalt (h-Co) from hexagonal Co(OH)2 as an intermediate species. Furthermore, we explore the re-adsorption and surface coordination of the Mo element, which enhances the catalytic activity for alkaline HER. This work provides valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of alloy-based electrocatalysts, shedding light on their structural stability and catalytic activity during electrochemical reduction processes

In this paper, 6063 aluminum alloy for common building profiles is used as the research object. By adding a new Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy, the effect of 6063 aluminum alloy on the microstructure and properties of 6063 aluminum alloy is studied. The results show that Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy has obvious effect on grain refinement of 6063 aluminum alloy. With the addition of Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy, the grain size decreased significantly. When the addition amount of Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy is 1%, the grain size is reduced from 482 μm to 121 μm. Rare earth La is mainly distributed near the Mg2Si phase and β-AlFeSi, and complex compounds such as AlFeSiMgLa are formed. After aging for 270 days on the basis of T6 heat treatment, the tensile strength and elongation of 6063 aluminum alloy augmented with the addition of Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy, and the Vickers hardness gradually diminished. When the addition amount of Al-Ti-C-La composite alloy is 1%, the tensile strength, elongation and Vickers hardness of 6063 aluminum alloy reach 177.2 MPa, 17.8% and 60.9 HV, respectively, and the tensile strength is increased by 16.3%. The elongation is increased by 50.8%, the Vickers hardness is reduced by 15.4%, and the fracture of the alloy is mainly ductile fracture.

The today competitive advantage of Ready-made garment industries depends on the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization. Ready-made garment industries have long historically adopted fewer technological and process advancement as compared to automotive, electronics and semiconductor industries. Simulation modeling of garment assembly line system has attracted a number of researchers as one way for insightful analysis of system behaviour and improving its performance. However, most of simulation studies have considered ill-defined experimental design which cannot fully explore the assembly line design alternatives and does not uncover the interaction effects of the input variables. Simulation metamodeling is an approach to assembly line design which has recently been of interest to so many researchers. However, its application in garment assembly line design has never been well explored. In this paper, simulation metamodeling of trouser assembly line with 72 operations has been demonstrated. The linear regression metamodel technique with resolution-V design was used. The effects of five factors: bundle size, job release policy, task assignment pattern, machine number and helper number on the production throughput of the trouser assembly line were studied. The increase of 28.63% of the production throughput was achieved for the best factors’ setting of the metamodel.

Radiation therapy is employed in treating various cancer types. However, depending on the type and stage of cancer, its benefits can be limited, and it may cause serious side effects that detrimentally affect the quality of life (QOL) for the patient. Preventing the side effects of radiation therapy can enhance the response to cancer treatment and improve the patient’s QOL. Independently, vitamin C and hydrogen have demonstrated potential in reducing the side effects of anticancer drugs and radiation therapy. Furthermore, both have been postulated to possess direct anticancer properties. However, the effects of their combined therapy remain underexplored. This study investigates the hypothesis that combining vitamin C and hydrogen efficiently prevents radiation-induced injuries. Survival rates were investigated in cancer cell lines (MDA-MB231 and GL261) and normal cells (HUVEC) treated with hydrogen, vitamin C and irradiation. Apoptosis was assessed using the FLICA test, and EMT gene expression was elucidated via the qPCR technique. In the normal cell line, the introduction of vitamin C and hydrogen to the culture medium boosted survival rates, exhibiting a radioprotective effect upon irradiation. In contrast, cancer cells showed a decreased survival rate with the introduction of vitamin C and hydrogen, which was further diminished with irradiation. Treated cancer cells showed signs of apoptosis. Caspase activity in viable cells was reduced by the combination treatment with vitamin C and hydrogen. Additionally, glioblastoma cells treated with this combination showed reduced EMT gene expression. This study reveals that a combined therapy of hydrogen and vitamin C offers radioprotective effects on normal cells and exerts direct anticancer effects on cancer cells, while also amplifying the anticancer effects of radiation. Importantly, this combined therapy attenuated the radiation-induced EMT signature in the GL261 murine glioma cell line, suggesting potential in diminishing treatment resistance and tumor invasion.

This paper is mainly based on a stricter premise of the twin paradox and the assumption of inertial frame, discusses the properties of time and space under the premise of complete symmetry, and draws an interesting conclusion: the simultaneity of different reference frames is possible realized, and the space is relatively independent. And based on this, the twin paradox, cosmic inflation, ultra-distance action of quantum entanglement, microscopic space motion of particles, measurement problems and other phenomena are tentatively explained from a new angle. This interpretation is exploratory and new. At the same time, the author also proposes an experimental way to test the relative independence of space.At the same time, this paper attempts to strictly prove that Einstein's definition of simultaneity and spatial absoluteness in special relativity may be problematic.

Understanding of the decisive role of the interaction mechanism and kinetics in the combustion processes is highly relevant for the elaboration of optimal conditions for obtaining Mo-Cu composite powders. From this perspective, the efficient delivery of the reduction mechanism of copper and molybdenum oxides with combined Mg + C reducing agents at high heating rates is crucial to develop a valuable approach for the combustion synthesis of Mo-Cu composite powders. Herein, we shed light on the mechanism of the reactions in all the studied binary, ternary and quaternary systems contemporaneously demonstrating the effect of the heating rate on the conversion degree. The combination of two highly exothermic and speedy reactions (MoO3+3Mg and CuO+Mg vs MoO3+CuO+4Mg) led to a slow interaction with weak self-heating (dysynergistic effect) due to a change in the reaction mechanism. On the other hand, it has been shown that during the simultaneous utilization of the Mg and C reducing agents, the process begins exclusively with carbothermic reduction, and at relatively high temperatures it continues with magnesiothermic one. The effective activation energy values of the magnesiothermic stages of the studied reactions were determined by Kissinger isoconversional method.

Sumudu transform of the Dixon elliptic function with non zero modulus a ≠ 0 for arbitrary powers sm^N(x,a) ; N ≥ 1 ; sm^N(x,a)cm(x,a) ; N ≥ 0 and sm^N(x,a)cm²(x,a) ; N ≥ 0 is given by product of Quasi C fractions. Next by assuming denominators of Quasi C fraction to 1 and hence applying Heliermann correspondance relating formal power series (Maclaurin series of Dixon elliptic functions) and regular C fraction, Hankel determinants are calculated and showed by taking a = 0 gives the Hankel determinants of regular C fraction. The derived results were back tracked to the Laplace transform of sm(x,a) ; cm(x,a) and sm(x,a)cm(x,a).

Exposure to ionizing radiation, accidental or intentional, may lead to delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE) that manifest as injury to organ systems including kidney, heart, and brain. This study examines the role of activated protein C (APC), a known mitigator of radiation-induced early toxicity, in long-term plasma metabolite and lipid panels that may be associated with DEARE. Male and female cohorts of C57BL/6N wild-type and APCHi transgenic mice were exposed to 9.5 Gy γ-rays with their hind-legs shielded to allow long-term survival that is necessary to monitor DEARE, and plasma was collected at 6 months for LC-MS based metabolomics and lipidomics. We observed significant dyslipidemia, indicative of inflammatory phenotype, upon radiation exposure. Additionally, observance of several other metabolic dysregulations was suggestive of gut damage, perturbations in TCA and urea cycles, and arginine metabolism. We also observed gender and genotype modulated metabolic perturbations post radiation exposure. The APCHi mice showed near normal abundance for several lipids. Moreover, restoration of plasma levels of some metabolites including amino acids, citric acid, and hypoxanthine in APCHi mice are indicative of APC-mediated protection from radiation injuries. With the help of these findings the role of APC in plasma molecular events after acute -radiation exposure in a gender-specific manner can be established for the first time.

In the past few decades, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) open the new field of organocatalysis in synthetic organic chemistry. This review highlights the dramatic progress in the NHC-catalyzed C−O bond formation based on the activation of aldehyde C(sp2)−H bonds. The oxidative and redox transformations for the synthesis of various molecules with structural diversity and complexity are summarized. Furthermore, new methods and strategies for NHC catalysis are emerging continuously; thus, cooperative catalysis with Brønsted acid, hydrogen-bonding catalyst, transition-metal catalyst, and photocatalyst is also described.

Study design: Technical note. Objectives: To present a novel technique of treatment for patient with basilar invagination. Background : Basilar invagination (BI) is considered a congenital condition and can compress the cervicomedullary junction, causing neurologic deficit. Severe neurological deficit due to BI should be treated surgically. However, there is controversy regarding whether an anterior or posterior approach should be used. Anterior approach is optimal for decompression of cervicomedullary junction, but this approach has high complication rates. Posterior reduction has a high risk of occipital screws backout and/or instrument failure. Materials and Methods : A 15-year-old boy with severe myelopathy was referred to our hospital. He had neck pain, muscle weakness of bilateral upper limbs, gait disturbance appeared 3 months before he visited our hospital, he drops a cup several times recently. In the examination, he had hyperreflexia of upper and lower limbs and muscle weakness of bilateral arms (MMT 4), hypoesthesis was observed bilaterally below elbow and both legs. He also had clumsiness of bilateral hands, mild urinary and bowel incontinence, and spastic gait. His 10 second grip and release test was 16 in both hands. His grip power was 20 kg in right and 17 kg in left. Radiograms showed severe BI and spinal cord was severely compressed with odontoid process.. Results : The patinet underwent posterior surgery with C-arm free technique. All screws including occipital screws were inserted adequate position under navigation guidance. Reduction was achieved with skull rotation and distraction. A follow-up at one year we have these results : Manual muscle testing results and sensory function tests showed almost full recovery, bilateral arms (MMT 5) ,walking smoothly. Cervical Japanese orthopedic association score of the patient has improved from 9/17 to 16/17. Post-operative images showed an excellent spinal cord decompression, and no major or severe complications has occured . Conclusions/Level of Evidence : Basilar invagination with Klippel-Feil syndrome is relatively rare condition. Posterior approach and occipito-cervical fixation for BI treatment with navigation technique is a safe method to treat severe myelopaty with reducible odontoid. This novel navigation technique provides an excellent results for a patient with BI. Level V.

Côte d’Ivoire has substantially neglected crop residues from farms in rural areas. This study aims to provide strategies for the sustainable conversion of crop residues to hydrogen. Using existing data and theoretical approaches, up to 16,801,306 tons of crop residues of 11 crop types were available in Côte d’Ivoire in 2019. A theoretical hydrogen potential of 1,296,424.84 tons was estimated from the crop residues. Technically, 907,497.39 tons of hydrogen is expected annually. Three scenarios of hydrogen project implementation developed indicated that the Ivorian industries can be supplied with 9,026,635 gigajoules of heat. Moreover, 17,910 cars and 4,732 buses can be supported in the transport sector. It is estimated that 817,293.95 tons of green ammonia for farmers can be supplied. Five million, seven hundred twenty-seven thousand, nine hundred ninety-two (5,727,992) households are expected to have access to 1,718.40 gigawatts of electricity. Due to these changes in transport, energy, industry, and agricultural sectors, a reduction of 1,644,722.08 tons of carbon dioxide per year can be achieved theoretically. With the scenarios, some 263,276.87 tons of hydrogen are exportable to other countries. Conversion of crop residues to hydrogen is a promising opportunity with environmental and socio-economic impact. Therefore, this study requires further extensive research.

Serine proteases regulate cell functions through G protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs). Cleavage of one peptide bond of the receptor amino terminus results in the formation of a new N-terminus ("tethered ligand") that can specifically interact with the second extracellular loop of the PAR receptor and activate it. Activation of PAR1 by thrombin (canonical agonist) and activated protein C (APC, noncanonical agonist) was described as biased agonism. Here we have supposed that synthetic peptide analogues to the PAR1 tethered ligand liberated by APC could have neuroprotective effects like APC. To verify this hypothesis a model of the ischemic brain impairment based on glutamate (Glu) excitotoxicity in primary neuronal cultures of neonatal rats has been used. It was shown that nanopeptide NPNDKYEPF-NH2 (AP9) effectively reduced the neuronal death induced by Glu. The influence of AP9 on cell survival was comparable to that of APC. Both APC and AP9 reduced the dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis in cultured neurons induced by excitotoxic Glu (100 µM) or NMDA (200 µM) concentrations. PAR1 agonist synthetic peptides might be a noncanonial PAR1-agonist and a basis of novel neuroprotective drugs for disorders related to Glu excitotoxicity such as brain ischemia, trauma and some neurodegenerative diseases.

The catalytically inactive caspase-8-homologous protein, c-FLIP, is a potent antiapoptotic protein highly expressed in various types of cancers. c-FLIP competes with caspase-8 for binding to the adaptor protein FADD (Fas-Associated Death Domain) following Death Receptors (DRs) activation by the ligands of the TNF-R family. As a consequence, the extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway involving DRs is inhibited. Inhibition of c-FLIP activity in tumor cells might enhance DR-mediated apoptosis and overcome immune and anticancer drug resistance. Based on an in silico approach, the aim of this work was to identify, new small inhibitory molecules able to bind selectively to c-FLIP and block its anti-apoptotic activity. Using a homology 3D model of c-FLIP, an in silico screening of 1880 compounds from the NCI database (National Cancer Institute) was performed. Nine molecules were selected for in vitro assays, based on their binding affinity to c-FLIP and their high selectivity compared to caspase-8. These compounds selectively bind to the Death Effector Domain 2 (DED2) of c-FLIP. We have tested in vitro the inhibitory effect of these 9 molecules using the human lung cancer cell line H1703 overexpressing c-FLIP. Our results showed that 6 of these newly identified compounds efficiently prevent FADD/c-FLIP interactions in a molecular pull-down assay, as well as in a DISC Immunoprecipitation assay. Overexpression of c-FLIP in H1703 prevents TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, however, combination of TRAIL with these selected molecules signifi-cantly restored TRAIL-induced cell death by rescuing caspase cleavage and activation. Altogether, our findings indicate that new inhibitory chemical compounds efficiently prevent c-FLIP recruit-ment into the DISC complex, thus restoring caspase-8 dependent apoptotic cascade. These results pave the way to design new c-FLIP inhibitory compounds that may serve as anticancer agents in tumors overexpressing c-FLIP.

Building situated in the flow path of wind is subjected to differential velocity and pressure distribution around the building envelope. Wind effects are influenced and vary for each individual shape of the tall building. Tall building structures are considered as cantilever structures with fixed ends at the ground. Wind exponential velocity acting along the height of the building makes velocity and pressure distribution more complex as the height of the building structure increases. This study discussed the effect of wind on an irregular cross-section shape. The study was conducted numerically with a building model placed in a virtual wind tunnel using the ANSYS (CFX) software tool. Wind effects are investigated on building model situated in a terrain category - II defined in IS: 875 (Part 3): 2015 wind scale model of 1:100 and turbulence intensity is 5 % and power law index α is considered as 0.143. Validation and verification of the study were made by comparing pressure coefficients on faces of a rectangular model of similar floor area and height as taken for a C-plan diamond-shaped model under similar boundary conditions, wind environment, and solver setting of numerical setup. The values of surface pressures generated on the recessed faces of the model and wind flow patterns within the recessed cavity were studied at wind incident angles 0°, 300, 60°, 1050, 1350 & 1800. The critical suction on all the recessed faces was observed to be at a 105° angle of wind attack.

Although Sn has been intensively studied as one of the most promising anode materials to replace commercialized graphite, its cycling performance and rate performance are still unsatisfactory owing to insufficient control of its large volume change during cycling and poor electrochemical kinetics. Herein, we propose a Sn-TiO2-C ternary composite as a promising anode material to overcome these limitations. The hybrid TiO2-C matrix synthesized via two-step high-energy ball milling effectively regulated the irreversible lithiation/delithiation of the active Sn electrode and facilitated Li-ion diffusion. At the appropriate C concentration, Sn-TiO2-C exhibited significantly enhanced cycling performance and rate capability compared to its counterparts (Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C). Sn-TiO2-C delivers good reversible specific capacities (669 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1 and 651 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 500 mA g-1) and rate performance (446 mAh g-1 at 3000 mA g-1). The superiority of Sn-TiO2-C over Sn-TiO2 and Sn-C was corroborated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which revealed faster Li-ion diffusion kinetics in the presence of the hybrid TiO2-C matrix than in the presence of TiO2 or C alone. Therefore, Sn-TiO2-C is a potential anode for next-generation Li-ion batteries.

Background: Recommended CKD first-line diagnostics is based on GFR-determination by Creatinine. Cystatin C-use may provide better assessment. Methods: We compared creatinine- and cystatin C-derived eGFR determination in first-line di-agnostic of 112 hospital patients aged >60 years (median=76 years). Patients were judged kid-ney-sane according to first-line diagnostic recommendations (N=61, eGFR (CKD-EPI) ≥60ml/min/m2, total urine protein <150mg/g creatinine, urinary red and white blood cells not increased) or classified at-risk for kidney insufficiency due to aortic valve dysfunction (N=51). Plausibility of eGFR-values was evaluated retrospectively by final case diagnoses. Results: eGFR (CAPA) was found linearly correlated to eGFR (CKD-EPI) (R2=0.5, slope=0.69, p<0.0001). In 93/112 (>80%) cases, eGFR (CAPA) yielded lower values (on average ≈20%). In 55/112 (49%) cases CKD-stage decreased. CKD-reclassification from kidney-sane to kid-ney-insufficient state (i.e. CKD1/2 to CKD3a/b or 4) or reclassification to more severe kidney in-sufficiency (i.e. CKD3a3b/4 or 3b4) was found in 41/112 (37%) cases. Worsening of CKD-classification (kidney-sanekidney-insufficient) based on eGFR (CAPA) was in 30% of cases plausible in the light of final case-diagnoses. Conclusion: In elderly patients (>60 years), renal function appears systematically overestimated by creatinine-based eGFR (CKD-EPI) heralding for this group employment of cystatin C-based eGFR (CAPA) as first-line diagnostic.

CRISPR-Cas allows us to introduce desired genome editing, including mutations, epitopes, and deletions with unprecedented efficiency. The development of CRISPR-Cas has progressed to such an extent that it is now applicable in various fields with the help of model organisms. C. elegans is one of the pioneering animals in which numerous CRISPR-Cas strategies have been rapidly es-tablished over the past decade. Ironically, the emergence of numerous methods makes the right choice of method difficult. Choosing an appropriate selection or screening approach is the first step in planning a genome modification. This report summarizes the key features and applications of CRISPR-Cas methods using C. elegans and illustrates key strategies. Our overview of significant advances in CRISPR-Cas will help readers to understand current advances in genome editing and navigate various methods of CRISPR-Cas genome editing.

A major limitation of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is its high sensitivity to the scalp and low sensitivity to the brain of adult humans. In the present work we use multi-distance hyperspectral NIRS (hNIRS) to investigate the optimal source-detector distances, range of wavelengths, and analysis techniques to separate cerebral responses to 30-s breath holds (BHs) from the responses in the superficial tissue layer in healthy adult humans. We observed significant responses to BHs in the scalp hemodynamics. Cerebral responses to BHs were detected in the cytochrome C oxidase redox (rCCO) at 4 cm without using data from the short-distance channel. Using the data from the 1 cm channel in the two-layer regression algorithm showed that hemodynamic and rCCO responses also occurred at 3cm. We found that the waveband 700-900 nm was optimal for the detection of cerebral responses to BHs in adults.

The transportation system has evolved into a complex cyber-physical system with the introduction of wireless communication and the emergence of connected travelers and connected automated vehicles. Such applications create an urgent need to develop high-fidelity transportation modeling tools that capture the mutual interaction of the communication and transportation systems. This paper addresses this need by developing a high-fidelity, large-scale dynamic and integrated traffic and direct cellullar vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure (collectively known as V2X) modeling tool. The unique contributions of this work are (1) we developed a scalable analytical communication model that captures packet movement at the millisecond level; (2) we coupled the communication and traffic simulation models in real-time to develop a fully integrated dynamic connected vehicle modeling tool; and (3) we developed scalable approaches that adjust the frequency of model coupling depending on the number of concurrent vehicles in the network. The proposed scalable modeling framework is demonstrated by running on the Los Angeles downtown network considering the morning peak hour traffic demand (145,000 vehicles), running faster than real-time on a regular personal computer (1.5 hours to run 1.86 hours of simulation time). Spatiotemporal estimates of packet delivery ratios for downtown Los Angeles are presented. This novel modeling framework provides a breakthrough in the development of urgently needed tools for large-scale testing of Direct C-V2X enabled applications.

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important causes of gastroenteritis in the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It is caused by the Apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium spp., and mainly affects children and immunosuppressed people, in whom it can pose a serious risk to their health, or even be life-threatening. In Honduras there are no data on parasite species or on molecular diversity or Cryptosporidium subtypes. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2019 and March 2020 for the molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in 102 patients living with HIV who attended a national hospital in Tegucigalpa. Stool samples were analysed by direct microscopy, acid-fast stained smears, and a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic test. All samples that tested positive were molecularly analyzed to identify the species and subtype of the parasite using three different markers: gp60, cowp, and 18Sr. PCR products were also sequenced. Four out of 102 samples (3.92%) were positive for Cryptosporidium parvum, and all were assigned to subtype IIa. These findings suggest a possible zoonotic transmission in this population.

The trace element selenium (Se) is taken up from the diet and becomes metabolized mainly by hepatocytes. Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) constitutes the liver-derived Se transporter. Biosynthesis of extracellular glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) in kidney depends on SELENOP-mediated Se supply. We hypothesized that Se status may serve as a useful prognostic marker for outcome in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Serum samples from patients were routinely collected before and after transplantation. Concentration of serum SELENOP and total Se as well as GPx3 activity were determined by standardized tests and related to survival, aetiology and pre-operative Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Scores. A total of 314 serum samples from 78 transplanted patients were available for analysis. The Se and SELENOP concentrations were on average below the reference ranges of healthy subjects. Patients with ethanol toxicity-dependent aetiology showed particularly low SELENOP and Se concentrations and GPx3 activity. Longitudinal analysis indicated declining Se concentrations in non-survivors. We conclude that severe liver disease necessitating organ replacement is characterized by a pronounced Se deficit before, during and after transplantation. A recovering Se status after surgery is associated with positive prognosis, and an adjuvant Se supplementation may thus support convalescence.

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a new entity in children, likely associated with previous coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Most of reports about PIMS come from countries particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to investigate the nature of inflammatory syndromes in Poland (a country with low COVID-19 prevalence) and to perceive the emergence of PIMS in our country. On May 25th, we have launched a nationwide survey of inflammatory syndromes in children for retrospective (since 4th March 2020) and prospective data collection. Up to 28th July, 39 reported children met inclusion criteria. We stratified them according to age (&lt;5 and ≥ 5 years old) and COVID-19 status. The majority of children had clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease, probably non-associated with COVID-19. However, children ≥5 years of age had PIMS characteristics, and 9 children had COVID-19 confirmation. This is the first to our knowledge report of PIMS register from the country with low COVID-19 prevalence, and it proves that PIMS may emerge in any area involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a context of limited COVID-19 testing availability, other risk factors of PIMS, e.g. older age should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory syndromes in children.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common forms of glomerular disease. It is diagnosed by the dominant or co-dominant IgA deposition in the mesangial region by histopathological examination of kidney biopsy. Kidney biopsy has its own complication and not performed frequently. microRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA, which plays an important role at the post transcriptional level by downregulating mRNAs. We have tried to establish a miRNA based biomarker for IgAN. We quantified miR-148b and let-7b from plasma in IgAN patients and healthy controls. Logistic regression models and receiver operating curve analysis used to analyze the miRNAs quantity and Oxford MEST-C scoring parameters (M- Mesangial hypercellularity, E- Endocapillary hypercellularity, S- Segmental glomerulosclerosis, T- Tubular atrophy/Interstitial fibrosis, C- Crescents). miR-148b and let-7b levels in IgAN were found to be higher by 2.9 and 5.48 times than the healthy controls, respectively. let-7b was positively correlated with complement C3 levels. Similarly, miR-148b was positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and negatively correlated with S, T, and blood pressure (BP). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for miR-148b against T were 0.87, 0.77, and 0.85, respectively. The threshold value of miR-148b concentration was found to be 8479 to differentiate the severe condition of IgAN. Furthermore, the decrease in miR-148b concentration at a threshold point indicated the progression of the severity of the IgAN. It can also be used to predict the IgAN at an earlier stage.

The aim of this study is (a) to develop, test, and employ a combined method of unsupervised machine learning to objectively assess the condition of sports facility in primary schools (PSSFC) and (b) examine the examine the geographical and typological association with PSSFC. Based on the Sixth National Sports Facility Census (NSFC), six PSSFC indicators (indoor and outdoor facility included) were selected as the measurements and decomposed by using the t-stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). Thereafter, the Fuzzy C-mean (FCM) algorithm was used to cluster the same type of PSSFC with selecting the optimum numbers of evaluation level. Overall 845 primary schools in Shanghai, China were recruited and tested by this combined approach of unsupervised machine learning. In addition, the two-way analysis of covariance was used to examine the location and types of school associated with PSSFC variables in each level. The combined method was found to have acceptable reliability and good interpretability, differentiating PSSFC into five gradient levels. The characteristics of PSSFC differ by the location and school type of individual school. Our findings are conducive to the regionalized and personalized intervention and promotion on the children’s physical activity (PA) upon the practical situation of particular schools.

Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) are used in clinical applications in ophthalmology, neurology and extensively in brain computer interface (BCI) research. BCI literature covers steady state VEP (SSVEP) and code modulated VEP (c-VEP) BCIs along with sophisticated methods to improve information transfer rates (ITR). There is a gap of knowledge regarding the VEP adaptation dynamics, physiological generation mechanisms and relation with BCI performance. A simple dual display VEP switch was developed to test signatures elicited by non-isochronic, non-singular, low jitter stimuli at the rates of 10, 32, 50 and 70 reversals per second (rps). Non-isochronic, low-jitter stimulation elicits Quasi-Steady-State VEPs (QSS-VEPs) that are utilized for simultaneous generation of transient VEP and QSS-VEP. QSS-VEP is a special case of c-VEPs and it is assumed that it shares the similar generators of the SSVEPs. Eight subjects were recorded and the performance of the overall system was analyzed by means of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, accuracy plots and ITRs. In summary QSS-VEPs performed better than transient VEPs. It was found that in general 32rps stimulation had the highest ROC area, accuracy and ITRs in general. To investigate the reasons behind this, adaptation dynamics of transient VEPs and QSS-VEPs at all four rates were analyzed and speculated. Moreover, QSS-VEPs were found to lead to higher accuracy by the template matching compared to SSVEPs at 10rps and 32rps.

Spinors are used for the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. They are treated as elements of a complex vector space in contrast to a real vector space. Spinor theory is abstract mathematics with an ambiguous interpretation. The overall phase of spinors does not affect the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. If two spinors have an overall phase of imaginary number i, then they can be treated like vectors in a real vector space. The square of the magnitude of the number, which is the sum of dot product and the term having basis vector i of cross product of two such vectors, is equal to the probability computed using the corresponding spinors. Therefore, the geometry of such spinors can be easily depicted in a three-dimensional space like vectors in a real vector space. Spinors are not isotropic vectors in Hilbert space. The sum of dot product and cross product of two complex numbers is equivalent to the quotient of the division of one complex number by another. Similarly, the sum of dot product and cross product of two vectors is the quotient of the division of one vector by another. Using the rules of division of vectors, we can find the rules of multiplication of vectors. The rules of multiplication and division of basis vector i match the rules of multiplication and division of imaginary number i. Therefore, basis vector i is nothing but imaginary number i. Multiplication of dot and cross product of two vectors to the second vector will give us the components of the first vector that are parallel and orthogonal to the second vector. Vectors are also made up of complex numbers like spinors. The reason for finding dot product of complex numbers in the process of computing the probability is to ignore the overall phase in contrast to the phase difference. This is misconstrued as complex vector space in quantum mechanics. 3-D number which is nothing but a spinor with new notation is an extension of vector algebra. It can have a real number as a term in addition to the terms i, j and k. In all other respects, it is a vector. 3-D numbers are part of the number system like real numbers and complex numbers. The real numbers are one dimensional numbers, the complex numbers are two-dimensional numbers and the 3-D numbers as well as vectors and spinors are three-dimensional numbers. As polarisation and spin are one and the same, we can straight away apply 3-D numbers to polarisation of light. 3-D numbers will greatly simplify the study of areas of science where three-dimensional space is involved.

The effective integration of aerial remote sensing data and ground multi-source data has always been one of the difficulties of quantitative remote sensing. A new monitoring mode is designed which installs the hyperspectral imager on the UAV and places a buoy spectrometer on the river. Water samples are collected simultaneously to obtain in situ assay data of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, COD, turbidity and chlorophyll during data collection. The cross correlogram spectral matching (CCSM) algorithm is used to match the data of the buoy spectrometer with the UAV spectral data to reduce the UAV data noise significantly. An absorption characteristics recognition algorithm (ACR) is designed to realize a new method for comparing UAV data with laboratory data. This method takes into account the spectral characteristics and the correlation characteristics of test data synchronously. It is concluded that the most accurate water quality parameters can be calculated by using the regression method under five scales after the regression tests of multiple linear regression method (MLR), support vector machine method (SVM) and neural network (NN) method. This new working mode of integrating spectral imager data with point spectrometer data will become a trend in water quality monitoring.

We report on space-selective crystallization of congruent and polar Sr2TiSi2O8 crystals in a stoichiometric SrO-TiO2-SiO2 glass induced by (1030 nm, 300 fs) femtosecond laser irradiation. This allows us to compare with non-congruent laser induced crystallization of polar LiNbO3, in non stoichiometric Li2O-Nb2O5-SiO2 glass and gain information on the mechanism of nanocrystals orientation with the laser polarization that we pointed out previously. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Second-harmonic generation (SHG) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), we studied the laser induced crystallization according to the laser processing parameters (pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, scanning speed). We found 1) a domain where the laser track is filled with crystals not perfectly textured (low energy), 2) a domain where an amorphous volume remain surrounded by a crystallized shell (high energy). This arises from Sr out-diffusion and may gives rise to crystallization of both SrTiO3 and Sr2TiSi2O8 phases at low speed. In the one-phase domain (at higher speed), it is found the possibility to elaborate a tube with a perfect fresnoite texture. Significant difference in size and morphology whereas crystallization threshold remains similar are discussed based on glases thermal propeties. Contrarily to Li2O-Nb2O5-SiO2 (LNS) glass, no domain of oriented nanocrystallization controlled by the laser polarization has been found in SrO-TiO2-SiO2 (STS) glass, which is attributed to the larger crystallization speed in STS glass. No nanogratings have also been found that is likely due to the congruency of the glass.

Due to the advantages such as low power consumption and higher concealment, deceptive jamming against synthetic aperture radar (SAR) receives extensive attention during the past decades. However, the large scene deception jamming is still a challenge because of the huge computing burden. In this paper, we propose a new large scene deceptive jamming algorithm. First, the time-delay and frequency-shift (TDFS) algorithm is introduced to improve the jamming processing speed. The system function of jammer (JSF) for a fake scatter is simplified to the multiplication of the scattering coefficient, a time-delay term in range dimension and a frequency-shift term in azimuth dimension. Then, in order to solve the problem that the effective region of the TDFS algorithm is limited, the scene deceptive jamming template is divided into several blocks according to the SAR parameters and imaging quality control factor. The JSF of each block is calculated by the TDFS algorithm and added together to achieve the large scene jamming. Finally, the correction algorithm in squint mode is derived. The simplification and parallel block processing could improve the calculation efficiency significantly. The simulation results verified the validity of the algorithm.

There is no well-defined threshold for intra-operative blood transfusion (BT) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) surgery. We developed a Machine Learning (ML)-driven prediction algorithm to trigger and explain a communication alert for BT based on anticipated peri-operative events irrespective of BT policies. We analysed prospectively collected data from 403 EOC patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery between 2014 and 2019. We calculated the estimated blood volume (EBV) using the formula EBV = weight x 80 and set off 10%EBV as threshold for individual intervention. Based on the known estimated blood loss (EBL) we identified two groups. We employed Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for performance metrics. The model performance for the above threshold prediction was satisfactory (AUC 0.823, 95% CI 0.76-0.88). The top feature commonly shared between interrogators was operative time (OT). Intra-operative blood loss of at least 10%EBV was associated with OT&gt;250 minutes, primary surgery, serous histology, performance status 0, R2 resection and surgical complexity score &gt;4. Large bowel resection, stoma formation, ileocecal resection/right hemicolectomy, mesenteric resection, bladder and upper abdominal peritonectomy were amongst sub-procedures clearly associated with increased intervention risk. Precise prediction of blood requirements is not possible unless a rough estimate of OT is known in advance.

Ulleung County, one of the most medically vulnerable areas in South Korea, requires public attention because of the high incidence of liver cancer. This study was conducted as a part of the Ulleung Liver Cancer Prevention and Management Project. The purpose of this study was to estimate the community prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses and to identify the associated risk factors. The Project’s interagency workgroup established a procedure for conducting blood sampling and health behavior surveys at the Ulleung Public Community Health Center. A total of 1,792 residents aged 40 years and older voluntarily participated in the study between 2019 and 2022. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) positive rates in Ulleung were 7.19% and 1.37%, respectively. Low education level and lifetime smoking were associated with HBsAg positivity, whereas cupping therapy at non-medical institutions was associated with anti-HCV positivity. The odds of HBs Ag positivity were lower among those with tattoos than among those without. There was a difference in the risk factors associated with hepatitis B and C viral infection. While a high HBs Ag positivity rate alone may not fully explain the high incidence of liver cancer in Ulleung, it may be a contributing factor.

We report on ground-based measurements of the atmospheric electric field (Ez= -Potential Gradient (PG)) and current density (Jz) that were conducted at two locations in Israel. One is the Emilio Segre cosmic ray station located on Mt. Hermon (34.45 N, 2020 m AMSL) located in northern Israel near the Syrian-Lebanon border and at the other at the Wise astronomical observatory in the Negev desert highland plateau of southern Israel (31.18 N, 870 m AMSL). We searched for possible effects of strong, short-term solar events on the potential gradient and the vertical current density, as disruption to the Global Electric Circuit are often observed following strong solar events. The first case study (St. Patrick Day, 17 March 2015) was classified as the strongest event of 2015. The second case study (8 Sep 2017) was categorized as the strongest event of 2017 and one of the twenty strongest events on record to date. The results show that the electrical parameters measured at ground level at both stations were not affected during the two massive proton events and the ensuing geomagnetic storms. The magnetospheric shielding in lower latitudes is strong enough to shield against flux of energetic particles from solar events, obscuring any impact that may be noticeable above the local daily variations induced by local meteorological conditions (aerosol concentrations, clouds, high humidity, and wind speed) which were investigated as well.

The ground surface deformation induced by shield tunnels passing through enclosure structure of existing tunnels is a particular underground construction scenario, which is encountered in Wuhan metro line 12 engineering cases in China. The classic ground deformation theory is difficult to accurately predict this ground deformation. This paper develops a semi-analytical method to predict ground heave considering space effect in this engineering condition. Based on improved ground deformation theory, a novel deformation prediction method of ground and enclosure structure is derived combined with Kirchhoff plate theory. Comparing with field deformation measurements, the maximum difference between measured and calculated deformation is 14.6%, which demonstrating that the proposed method can be used to predict the ground heave induced by shield tunnels passing through the enclosure structure of existing tunnels. The parameters of underground diaphragm wall used in Wuhan metro line 12 are further studied in detail. The results show that the ground heaves have positive correlation with embedded ratio of diaphragm wall, but negative correlation with its elastic modulus and thickness. But the thickness and embedded ratio has a limited effect on ground heaves. This study provides a technical reference for optimization setting of enclosure structure in protecting existing building.

The determination of critical ventilation flow rate is significant for the risk control and the standard development during accidental hydrogen leakage in a confined space with hydrogen-related equipment. In this paper, an analytical model for calculating critical ventilation flow rate was proposed through the quantification and constraint solution of ventilation effect and ventilation cost. The experimental method was used to investigate the effects of nozzle diameter and stagnation pressure on diffusion and ventilation for horizontal hydrogen leakage in a cuboid chamber. Ventilations from 30m3/h to 180m3/h were carried out through the rectangular vent. It was shown that the peak concentration of the measuring point is positively correlated with the stagnation pressure and the nozzle diameter. The experimental data are used to verify the analytical model by calculating the effective ventilation time. The study demonstrates that the critical ventilation flow rate can be increased significantly at higher stagnation pressures and larger nozzle diameters. And the discrepancy of critical ventilation flow rates under different nozzle diameters will be enhanced with the increase of stagnation pressure. For the stagnation pressure of 0.4MPa, the critical ventilation flow rate under 4mm nozzle even increases by 52% relative to the 2mm nozzle.

Parametric form findings of free-form space structures and qualitative assessment of their aesthetics are among the concerns of architects. This study aims to evaluate the aesthetic aspect of these structures using ML algorithms based on the expert's experiences. First, various datasets of forms were produced using a parametric algorithm of free-form space structures written in Grasshopper. Then, three multilayer perceptron ANN models were adjusted in their most optimal modes using the results of the preference test based on the aesthetic criteria including simplicity, complexity, and practicality. The results indicate that the ANN models can quantitatively evaluate the aesthetic value of free-form space structures.

The aim of this study is to propose and validate the state space mode decomposition technique for precise mode separation of non-classical damping systems and closely distributed modal systems. To assess the reliability and applicability of this technique, a 40-story building with a tuned mass damper is investigated, and acceleration responses measured by the building's health monitoring system are used for the verification of the technique. The mode separation results reveal that the separated modal power spectrum becomes distorted at neighboring natural frequency ranges when the performance index only considers the concentration of power spectral energy at the target natural frequency. However, by introducing an augmented performance index that includes a constraint condition to account for distortion, more accurate mode decomposition can be achieved.

Here we propose the concept of an electro–microbial route to uncouple food production from photosynthesis, thereby enabling production of nutritious food in space without the need to grow plant-based crops. In the proposed process, carbon dioxide is fixed into ethanol using either chemical catalysis or microbial carbon fixation, and the ethanol created is used as a carbon source for yeast to synthesize food for human or animal consumption. The process depends upon technologies that can utilize electrical energy to fix carbon into ethanol and uses an optimized strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce high quality, food grade single cell protein using only ethanol, urea, phosphate, and inorganic salts as inputs. Unlike crops using photosynthesis that require months to mature and are challenging to grow under the conditions found in space, the electro–microbial process could generate significant quantities of food on demand with potentially high yields and productivities. In this paper we explore the potential of the proposed process to provide food on demand in space, but it should be noted that this novel approach to food production has many valuable terrestrial applications too. For example, enabling food production in climatically challenged environments including turning deserts into food bowls, or utilizing surplus electricity generated from large-scale renewable power sources.

The article is devoted to the preliminary concept of the Future Planetary Defense System (FPDS), emphasizing Astroballistics. This paper is intended to support international efforts to improve the planetary security of the Earth. The work covers three areas of knowledge: Astronautics, Astrodynamics, and Astroballistics. The most important part of the presented article is dynamic, contact combat modeling against small, deformable celestial bodies. For these purposes, the original, proprietary hydrocode of the Free Particle Method (HEFPM-G) with gravity was used. The main aim of combat is to redirect the Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs) to orbits safe for the Earth or destroy them. This concept's first task is to find, prepare and use dynamic three-dimensional models of celestial bodies' motion and spacecraft or human-crewed spaceships in the Solar System's relativistic frame. The second task is to prepare the FPDS' architecture and computer simulation space missions' initial concepts in the internal part of the solar system. The third and main task covers simulating, using hydrocodes, selected methods of fighting 100 m and 140 m diameter asteroids. The order of the article is as follows. The first part of the article presents an architecture and FPDS' modus operandi. Preliminary design and development of FPDS' space missions, including navigation, mission dynamics simulation, is prepared using an open-source space mission analysis and design tool. E.g., Asterank and Trajectory Browser or GMAT are presented in the second part. The third part of the article is devoted to computer hydrocodes (HEFPM-G) and the modeling and simulation of asteroid–asteroid collision, laser radiation effects on an asteroid, and FPDS spacecraft's warhead contact interaction on the small celestial body. The authors formulated the Main Planetary Defense Problem (MPDP) in this paper. The proposition of this problem solving has been realized by preparing its concepts, architecture, and modus operandi of the FPDS mission. Finally, a series of realistic simulations were made using hydrocode to deflect or destroy dangerous asteroids. The summary and conclusions can be found in the fourth part of the article.

Although educational timetabling problems have been studied for decades, one type, the STP, has not developed as quickly as the other two types due to its diversity and complexity. Also, most of the STP research has only focused on the educators’ availabilities when studying the educator aspect, and the educators’ preferences and expertise have not been taken into consideration. This paper proposes a conceptual model for the school timetabling problem considering educators’ availabilities, preferences and expertise as a whole, and chooses a common real-world school timetabling scenario to study. A mathematical model is presented. A Virtual search space for dealing with the large search space is introduced, and the artificial bee colony algorithm is adapted and applied to the proposed model. The proposed approach is simulated with a random-generated large dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is able to solve the STP and handle a large dataset in an ordinary computer hardware environment, which significantly reduces computational costs. Compared to the traditional CP method, the proposed approach is more effective and can provide more satisfactory solutions in considering educators’ availabilities, preferences, and expertise levels.

Due to the fact that negative energies have no existence in physical reality, the advanced mechanics of purely positive energies should describe gravitational interactions and collisions in monistic terms of extended kinetic energies and their local stresses. Such non-Newtonian mechanics of continuous inertial densities reinforces the Cartesian concept of matter-extension in the metric formalism of Einstein-Grossmann with a supplemental (dark, aether) fraction of bi-vertex mass-energy distributions. Local accelerations or decelerations of mono-vertex material densities in a multi-vertex distribution of complete kinetic energy arise under its constant integral due to nonlocal organization of continuous densities. Such integral conservation of the distributed mass-energy occurs instantaneously throughout the whole continuum of correlated densities and metric stresses despite the time-varying contributions of complementary mono-vertex and bi-vertex fractions. Under the nonlocal organization of purely kinetic (positive) mass-energy, geodesic self-heating and self-cooling of the pulsating space-matter conserve the integral energy in the two-fraction virial theorem for the averaged motion of visible mono-vertexes in the presence of invisible bi-vertex (interference, dark) mass-energy. Metric stresses of such material space are subordinate to nonlocal self-government of continuously distributed kinetic energy, including the relativistic rest-energy of General Relativity. These mutually consistent or correlated stresses in inertial space-time-energy create timelessly coordinated self-accelerations, observed for dense material volumes as distant gravitational pulls. In order to falsify/verify the nonlocal self-organization of adaptive kinetic energy, the monistic mechanics of self-consistent inertial densities and metric stresses can suggest moderate field changes in the temporal redshift, cycles of geodetic falls and takeoffs in pulsating kinetic organizations, and the calculated acceleration of the expanding Metagalaxy in its current phase of geodesic self-cooling.

This work investigates centered polygonal lacunary functions restricted from the unit disk onto symmetry angle space which is defined by the symmetry angles of a given centered polygonal lacunary function. This restriction allows for one to consider only the p-sequences of the centered polygonal lacunary functions which are bounded, but not convergent, at the natural boundary. The periodicity of the $p$-sequences naturally gives rise to a convergent subsequence, which can be used as a grounds for decomposition of the restricted centered polygonal lacunary functions. A mapping of the unit disk to the sphere allows for the study of the line integrals of restricted centered polygonal that includes analytic progress towards closed form representations. Obvious closures of the domain obtained from the spherical map lead to four distinct topological spaces of the "broom topology'' type.

Full-order state-space models represent the starting point for the development of advanced control methods for wind turbine systems (WTSs). Regarding existing control-oriented WTS models, two research gaps must be noted: (i) There exists no full-order WTS model in form of one overall ordinary differential equation that considers all dynamical effects which significantly influence the electrical power output; (ii) all existing reduced-order WTS models are subject to rather arbitrary simplifications and are not validated against a full-order model. Therefore, in this paper, two full-order nonlinear state-space models (of 11th and 9th-order in the (a, b, c)- and (d, q)-reference frame, resp.) for variable-speed variable-pitch permanent magnet synchronous generator WTSs are derived. The full-order models cover all relevant dynamical effects with significant impact on the system’s power output, including the switching behavior of the power electronic devices. Based on the full-order models, by a step-by-step model reduction procedure, two reduced-order WTS models are deduced: A non-switching (averaging) 7th-order WTS model and a non-switching 3rd-order WTS model. Comparative simulation results reveal that all models capture the dominant system dynamics properly. The full-order models allow for a detailed analysis covering the high frequency oscillations in the instantaneous power output due to the switching in the power converters. The reduced-order models provide a time-averaged instantaneous power output (which still correctly reflects the energy produced by the WTS) and come with a drastically reduced complexity making those models appropriate for large-scale power grid controller design.

The pleiotropic biochemical and antioxidant functions of Vitamin C (Vit C) have recently sparked interest in its application in intensive care. Vit C protects important organ systems such as the cardiovascular, neurologic and renal system during inflammation and oxidative stress. Vit C also influences the systems of coagulation and inflammation and its application might prevent the development of organ damage. The current evidence of Vit C’s effect on the pathophysiological reactions during various acute stress events, such as sepsis, shock, trauma, burn and ischemia-reperfusion injury imposes the question, if the application of Vit C might be especially beneficial for cardiac surgery patients, who are routinely exposed to ischemia/reperfusion and subsequent inflammation, systematically affecting different organ systems. This review covers current knowledge about the role of Vit C in cardiac surgery patients with focus on its influence on organ dysfunctions. The relationships between Vit C and clinical health outcomes are reviewed with special emphasis on its application in cardiac surgery. Additionally, this review pragmatically discusses evidence regarding the administration of Vitamin C in every day clinical practice, tackling the issues of safety, monitoring, dosage and most the appropriate application strategy.

Biochar application to the soil can improve soil quality and nutrient leaching loss. Recent studies have reported that surficial application of biochar to stored swine manure can reduce emissions of odorous compounds and reduce the volatilization loss of ammonia. Our working hypothesis was that the biochar-treated manure application to the soil would decrease nutrient leaching from manure and increase plant-available nutrients. The study objectives were to evaluate the impact of biochar-treated swine manure on soil total C, N, and other major and minor nutrients. Three biochars (i) neutral pH red-oak (RO), (ii) highly alkaline autothermal corn (Zea mays) stover (HAP), and (iii) mild acidic Fe-treated autothermal corn stover (HAPE) were incubated with swine manure for a month. The biochar-manure mixture was applied in triplicate to soil columns with application rate determined by the P₂O₅-P content in manure or manure-biochar mixtures after the incubation. The ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^-), and reactive P concentrations in soil column leachates were recorded for eight leaching events. Soil properties and plant-available nutrients were compared between treatments and control manure & soil. Manure-(HAP&HAPE) biochar treatments significantly increased soil organic matter (OM) and increased soil total C, N, and improved soil bulk density. Concentrations of KCl-extractable NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- significantly increased in HAPE column leachates during this 4-week study and in the soil after the experiment. A significant reduction in soil Mehlich3 Cu was also observed for the manure-HAPE mixture compared with the control. Overall, the manure-biochar incubation enabled biochar to sorb nutrients from manure, and the subsequent manure-biochar mixture application to soil improved soil quality and plant nutrient availability in comparison to conventional manure application to soil. This proof-of-the-concept study suggests that biochars could be used to solve both environmental and agronomic challenges and further improve the sustainability of animal and crop production agriculture.

Plants are affected by soil environments to the same extent they affect soil functioning through interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Here, five plant species (broad bean, pea, cabbage, fennel, and olive) grown under controlled pot conditions were tested for their ability to differently stimulate the degradation of standard litter. Litter, soil C and N contents and soil microbial abundance were measured. The architecture and morphological traits of roots systems were also evaluated by using specific open-source software (SmartRoot). Soil chemical and microbiological characteristics were significantly influenced by the plant species. Variations in soil C/N dynamics were correlated with the diversity of root traits among species. Early-stage decomposition of the standard litter changed on the basis of the plant species. The results indicated that key soil processes are governed by interactions between plant roots, soil C and N, and the microbial metabolism that stimulate decomposition reactions. This, in turn, can have marked effects on soil chemical and microbiological fertility, both fundamental for sustaining crops, and can promote the development of new approaches for optimizing soil C and N cycling, managing nutrient transport, and sustaining and improving net primary production.

Bodybuilders utilize peaking strategies in a bid to fine-tune their aesthetics for competition day. The most prevalent peaking strategies utilized by natural bodybuilders are unreported in the current literature. Eighty-one (M - 59, F - 22) natural bodybuilders were recruited from competitions during the 2016 and 2017 British Natural Bodybuilder Federation seasons. Competitors completed a 34-item questionnaire designed to investigate peaking and contest day strategies. The questionnaire listed commonly utilized peaking strategies and provided additional space for qualitative information. Analysis of the data indicated that carbohydrate (CHO), water and sodium manipulation were the most commonly utilized peak week strategies. The consumption of high glycemic index CHO was the most common competition day strategy. Only 6.2 % of competitors reported following their regular diet the week prior to competition. The CHO manipulation strategies were similar to classical CHO loading, whereby bodybuilders attempt to maximize muscle glycogen concentrations. Furthermore, bodybuilders attempted to remove superfluous water by exploiting the diuretic/polyuria effect associated with water loading/restriction. The potentially deleterious effects of peaking on bodybuilders' health is considered and the efficacy of these strategies to enhance appearance is discussed. The findings of the present investigation are likely to be of interest to bodybuilders and their coaches.

Rotavirus species H (RVH) has been detected in pigs, humans and bats. Moreover, porcine RVHs have been recently identified in several swine-producing countries. Despite their zoonotic impact, genome information of RVHs is still limited. This study aimed to establish a tentative complete genome-based genotyping system for RVHs, by appending genomic sequences from 12 porcine RVHs identified in Japan between 2013 and 2015 to those from human and other porcine RVHs reported in previous studies. Phylogenetic analysis of 11 RNA segments indicated that porcine RVHs could be classified into multiple genotypes. Consequently, the genotype classification for RVHs revealed the existence of genotypes 10G, 6P, 6I, 3R, 4C, 7M, 6A, 2N, 4T, 6E, 3H for the genes VP7, VP4, VP6, VP1, VP2, VP3, NSP1, NSP2, NSP3, NSP4 and NSP5, respectively. Surprisingly, two distinctive types in NSP1 and NSP3 genes were identified from among the twelve porcine RVHs. Our data suggest a potentially novel gene rearrangement event between porcine RVH and rotavirus species C in the NSP3 gene. These findings would provide a new insight in understanding for evolution of RV.

This paper discovers that current canonical variational principle and canonical Noether theorem of (in)finite freedom systems for different physics systems have neglected doublet extreme value processes of the general extreme value functional that both is derived by variational principle and is necessarily be taken in deriving all ( quantum ) physics laws in phase space, but which have not been done for over one century since Noether's showing her distinguished theorem, which lead to the crisis deriving all (quantum) physics laws (necessary) in phase space. We discover there is the hidden logic cycle that people assume canonical equations, and then they finally deduce canonical equations by the equivalent relation in the whole processes in all current references. We correct the current key mistake concepts that when physics systems take the variational extreme values, the appearing processes of the physics systems are real physics processes, otherwise, are virtual processes in all current references. The real physics should be what after taking the physics systems' variational extreme values, the physics systems' general extremum functional needs to further take the general extremum functional's minimum absolute extremum zero, otherwise, the appearing processes of physics systems still are virtual processes. Conservation current equations and conservation currents, in phase space, of general canonical variational principle and general canonical Noether theorem are, respectively, deduced for the first time. Using the general extremum functionals' doublet extreme value processes, the hidden logic cycle and the crisis in current canonical variational principle and current canonical Noether theorem are solved. Consequently, the new mathematical pictures, classical and quantum new physics in phase space and the new mathematical and physical doublet extremum processes for (in)finite freedom systems are discovered. General canonical variational principle and general canonical Noether theorem naturally are given, which would rewrite all the different sciences in phase space, as key tools of studying and dealing with them.

The goal of the manuscript is to design a relatively best control structure for the noise suppression of a drone’s camera gimbal action. The gimbal’s movement can be simplified as a rest-to-rest reorientation system that can achieve the boundary result of a dynamic system. Six different control architectures are proposed and evaluated based on their ability to control the trajectory of the dynamic-system position and speed, their running time, and quadratic cost. The robustness of the control architecture to uncertainties in inertia and sensor noise is also analyzed. Monte Carlo figures are used to assess the performance of the six control systems. The conditions for applying different architectures are identified through this analysis. The analysis and experimental tests reveal the most suitable control of the drone’s camera gimbal rotation.

In the Czech Republic, the Universal Soil Loss Equation provides the basis for defining the soil protection strategy. Field rainfall simulators were used to define the actual cover-management factor values of the most extensively seeded crops in the Czech Republic. More than 380 simulations between 2016 and 2021 provided data. The methodology focused on multi-seasonal measurements to cover the most important phenological phases. A comparison with the original USDA values for maize showed that it is desirable to redefine the C-factor. 71 fallow plot experiments showed that the rainfall-runoff relation is much easier to replicate than the actual sediment transport. For 30-minute intensive rainfall, the runoff ratio reached 62%, and the coefficient of variation was 25%. On saturated soil, the runoff ratio reached 81% and the coefficient of variation dropped to 12%. Soil protection techniques have a significant effect on runoff reduction. Maize seeded after cover crops and combined with reduced tillage or direct seeding can reduce the runoff ratio to 10-20% for ‘dry’ conditions and to 12-40% for ‘saturated’ conditions. Concerning soil loss, the variations are greater, with the coefficient of variation reaching 42% during fallow plot experiments. The reader should consider associated uncertainties.

Background. In the last decade, it was concluded that glaucomatous optic neuropathy is part of the neurodegenerative diseases in which destructive neuronal lesions are located not only in the structure of the retina, but they are also present at the level of the central visual and nervous pathways. Patients with Primitive Open Angle Glaucoma may have experienced changes such as sensorineural hearing loss as well as balance changes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of involvement of the auditory system in patients with glaucoma, the structural changes in the optic nerve and, to establish correlation between the hearing loss and structural changes in the optic nerve. The subjects included in the study are grouped as follows: a group of patients with glaucoma that will be compared to a group of patients without glaucoma only as well as identi-fy-ing the evolution of structural changes in optic nerve to patients with glaucoma and to normal patients. Material and methods. It is a prospective, cross-sectional study on 32 eyes of 16 subjects with Primitive Open Angle Glaucoma in a study group and 24 eyes of 12 healthy subjects in con-trol group with a mean age of 62 years in both groups. Both groups underwent ophthalmo-logical, audiological and radio imaging evaluation: Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) were recorded, oph-thalmologic evaluations according to a standardized protocol and MRI cerebral examination was performed. Results: In the Study group patients, compared to the Control group, the average lev-els of the left PTA, the cup/disc (C/D) area in both eyes, the C/D ratio in both eyes are in-creased. The mean level of Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) mean thickness was slightly lower in patients with glaucoma. Multivariate analysis demonstrates that gender can be a good predictor of C/D area, gender and age can be good predictors of PTA both eyes and C/D ratio in the right eye, and gender, age and background can be good predictors of disc area in the left eye. Conclu-sions: Pa-tients with Primitive Open Angle Glaucoma show changes in audiometry test in correla-tion with ophthalmological parameters demonstrating that the auditory system can be affected in Primitive Open Angle Glaucoma. This study emphasizes the problem of interdisciplinarity in medicine with the aim of ensuring the quality of life of patients with glaucoma. A good collabora-tion between ophthalmologist and otolaryngologist will be very useful for these patients.

Revealing the time structure of physical or biological objects is usually performed thanks to the tools of signal processing like the fast Fourier transform, Ramanujan sum signal processing and many other techniques. For space-time topological objects in physics and biology, we propose a type of algebraic processing based on schemes in which the discrimination of singularities within objects is based on the space-time-spin group SL(2,C). Such topological objects possess an homotopy structure encoded in their fundamental group and the related SL(2,C) multivariate polynomial character variety contains a plethora of singularities somehow analogous to the frequency spectrum in time structures. Our approach is applied to an Akbulut cork in exotic R4, to an hyperbolic model of topological quantum computing based on algebraic surfaces and to microRNAs in genetics. Such diverse topics reveal the manifold of possibilities of using the concept of a scheme spectrum.

The negative energy solutions of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations have been used to define the antiparticle with the positive energy from the Feynman - Stueckelberg interpretation in the standard model based on the 4-D Minkowski space with the relative time. The negative energy solutions of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations are used to define the antiparticles with the negative energy in the present 3-D quantized space model. Note that all the present results are based on the 4-D Euclidean space with the absolute time (t) and relative time (t_l). Then the particle with the positive energy and antiparticle with the negative energy have the 4-D P₄ = TCP = T_cP symmetry. The continuity equations are derived from the Klein-Gordon, Dirac and Schrodinger equations. The Klein-Gordon and Schrodinger equations with the potential barriers are solved. The Klein paradox is explained by using the pair production of the electron with the positive energy and positron with the negative energy under the P₄ = _TcP symmetry, The effective velocity ( c_eff=√2 " c " ) and effective energy ("Etl =" √2 E ) along the relative time axis (ctl) give the relative time momentum of "p_tl"=E_tl/c_eff =(√2 E)/(√2 c)=E/c=p_t=p_x. This indicates that the photons with the energy of E have the constant photon velocity of c and the constant photon momentum of "ptl"=E_tl/c_eff =(√2 E)/(√2 c)=E/c=p_t=p_x. For the negative energy particles, the space momentum directions are opposite to the particle velocity directions because the energy is negative. And the matter collapse to the photons at the very high particle velocity is discussed from the length expansion. It is, for the first time, proposed that the gamma ray burst is originated from the matter collapse to the photons near the black hole. Also, the wave function collapse is explained from the length expansion. The wave function collapse takes place when the measurement makes the particle velocity to be zero. It is concluded that the negative energy solutions of the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations support the existence of the partner antimatter universe with the negative energy and negative time direction. Our matter universe has the positive energy and the positive time direction.

Human existence and development ever demanded suitable shelter, the dual direc-tion relationship of human-residence have always been a material dealt with to enhance residential living conditions. The emersion of COVID-19 pandemic had introduced ab-rupt and dramatic changes in human life protocols, that exerted clear pressure on differ-ent sectors within the built environment. Housing beard great impact due to needs of so-cial distancing and quarantine obligations to increase chances of human existence. In order to measure human adaptation and residence alterations following new residential requirements, Quality of life investigations to promotse better built environment for oc-cupants had been facilitated using theory of residential dissatisfaction already been adopted in current study. Residents’ responses had been extracted regarding their dissat-isfaction applying Likert scale for measurement and evaluation. The study focused on homogenous housing estates in Erbil City precisely apartments have been selected with different plans and building layouts for their widespread use in the city and have been occupied during the three stages of study to go beyond investigating direct impact of the pandemic towards permanence of alterations and adaptation even after pandemic. Rea-sons causing changed dissatisfaction levels have been investigated for better reliability towards formulating final conclusions and recommendations. Findings showed in-creased dissatisfaction during pandemic in most of spaces, apartment layout and space design significantly affected responses and demands. Levels of dissatisfaction after pan-demic were different from stability to slight decline in dissatisfaction. The effect of limited external spaces in apartments had limited the possibility to manage the pressure, a case that might be less demanding in single family housing due to availability of private gar-dens.

The absolute time and relative time are defined in terms of the 4-D Euclidean space. Our universe is the 3-D x₁x₂x₃ quantized photon space which follows the absolute time simultaneity when the universe moves along the absolute time axis of ct. The length expansion of Dx = gDx₀ is derived under the condition of the absolute time (ct) simultaneity. From the similarity between this length expansion of Dx = gDx₀ and the energy increasing of E = gE₀, it is assumed that the energy is proportional to the particle size of Dx. The extension of this assumption to the 4-D Euclidean space gives the new definition that the particle energy (E) is the 4-D volume. Then, the particle mass energy is defined as E= mc² = cDtDV = gE₀. The masses of the elementary particles are originated from the 4-D warped volume of the photon space because the particle is the warped photon space with the velocity of v < c. Therefore, the Higgs boson concept in the standard model (SM) is not needed in the present 3-D quantized space model (TQSM). The scalar boson with the spin of zero, photon with the spin of 1 and graviton with the spin of 2 are the two-boson states. Therefore, the observed Higgs boson is reinterpreted as the two-boson state of the scalar boson with the spin of zero. The cosmic muon observation and twin paradox are explained by using the absolute time and relative time. The relative time is the observed time in the twin paradox and cosmic muon observation. In the twin paradox, a person who travels the long distance is more aged than a person on the earth in terms of the relative time ages because of the space and time conversion effect (STCE effect) of the moving space distance (x). But twins are in the same ages in terms of the absolute time without STCE effect. The fast-moving cosmic muon has the expanded half-life from the time expansion of the relative time. Also, the quantum entanglement and Pauli exclusion principle are explained. The quantum base of the photon space line connects two entangled particles. Two particles and quantum base system is fluctuated along the absolute time axis by the time clicking when one particle is measured. Another particle is instantly selected by the time clicking. This is called as the quantum entanglement. The photons which are the flat photon space with the constant speed of c along the space axis and absolute time axis have the 4-D photon velocity of c_eff = 2^0.5 c. Total 10-D Euclidean space including three 3-D quantized spaces and one absolute time axis is required for the electric charges (EC), lepton charges (CC) and color charges (CC) of the elementary particles. The 3-D photon space is very stiff along the absolute time (ct) axis and very soft along the space axes. The Coulomb force through the photons (2EM waves) of the space fluctuations is much stronger than the Gravitational force through the gravitons (G waves) of the time fluctuations between two electrons.

: Cardiac surgery (CS) with extracorporeal circulation (ECC), induces oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory response, which may seriously affect postoperative lung function. We aimed to test if high parenteral (200mg/kg/24h) perioperative (48h) doses of Vitamin C (VitC) may reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) in selected CS patients. Single centered, prospective, randomized, single-blinded, interventional study included 150 patients, assigned to control group A (n=75) and interventional group B (n=75). Group B intraoperatively received 1/4 of the planned daily Vit C dose (200mg/kg/24h), diluted in 10 ml of normal saline, divided into three parts, while Group A received an equal volume of normal saline at the same time frames. After 6 h from the first intraoperative dose, the following regimen was applied: Group B: 200 mg/kg/24h - 30 min i.v. infusion of VitC in 50 ml of normal saline, every 6h, for the next 48h, and Group A: 30 min i.v. infusion of an equal volume of normal saline every 6 hours, for the next 48h. Modified Kroenke’s score was used to determine the incidence and severity of PPC. The overall incidence of PPC was 36.7% and was significantly lower in Group B (13.3% v.s. 60.0%, p&lt;0.001). The severity of PPC was also significantly lower in Group B [1(1) v.s. 3(2), p&lt;0.001]. Besides, patients from Group B had significantly less damaged lungs and better postoperative renal function, shorter ICU stay, fewer ICU re-admissions, and lower hospital mortality. High parenteral daily VitC doses (200mg/kg/24h) given to selected CS patients for 48h after CS are safe and effective in reducing the incidence and severity of PPC. Further multicenter RCT is needed to confirm these results.

Vanadium(IV) chalcogenide materials are of increasing interest for use in catalysis and energy conversion-related applications. Since no ternary compounds are yet known in the V–Se–Te system, we studied ternary VwSeyTe2–y (w = 1.10, 1.13; y = 0.42, 0.72) phases crystallizing in space group P3m1 (no. 164). Two single-crystal specimens with differing compositions of a solid solution were obtained using the ceramic method. All products were characterized by either single-crystal or powder X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters increase with rising tellurium content in accordance to the larger ionic radius of the tellurium anion compared to selenium. The chemical compositions were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Further, magnetic measurements revealed mostly antiferromagnetic properties. Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analyses in nitrogen atmosphere showed endothermic decomposition accompanied by the formation of VN. The results of this work can serve as a basis for the synthesis of new phases in the V–Se–Te and related vanadium chalcogenide systems.

In the paper, by virtue of convolution theorem for the Laplace transforms, Bernstein's theorem for completely monotonic functions, and other techniques, the author finds necessary and sufficient conditions for a difference constituted by four derivatives of a function involving trigamma function to be completely monotonic.

The construction of carbon-carbon bonds by direct involvement of two unactivated carbon-hydrogen bonds, without any directing group, ensures an high atom economy of the entire process. Here it is described a simple protocol for the Pd(II)/Cu(II)-promoted intermolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of 5-arylimidazoles, benzimidazoles, benzoxazole and 4,5-diphenylimidazole at their C-2 position with functionalized styrenes. This specific CDC, known as Fujiwara-Moritani reaction or oxidative Heck coupling, allowed also the C-4 alkenylation of the imidazole nucleus when both 2 and 5 positions are occupied.

Space–air–ground integrated network (SAGIN) is considered as an enabler for the sixth-generation (6G) networks. By integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial (satellite, aerial) networks, SAGIN seem to be a quite promising solution to provide reliable connectivity everywhere and all the time. Their availability can be further enhanced if hybrid free space optical (FSO)/radio frequency (RF) links are adopted. In this paper, the performance of a hybrid FSO/RF communication system operating in SAGIN has been analytically evaluated. In the considered system, a high altitude platform station (HAPS) is used to forward the satellite signal to the ground station. Moreover, the FSO channel model assumed takes into account the turbulence, pointing errors and path losses, while for the RF links, a relatively new composite fading model has been considered. In this context, a new link selection scheme has been proposed that is designed to reduced the signaling overhead required for the switching operations between the RF and FSO links. The analytical framework that has been developed is based on the Markov chain theory. Capitalizing on this framework, the performance of the system has been investigated using the criteria of outage probability and the average number of link estimations. The numerical results presented reveal that the new selection scheme offers a good compromise between performance and complexity.

Open-source 3-D printing has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the additive manufacturing (AM) landscape, by making distributed manufacturing economic, democratizing access, and fostering far more rapid innovation than antiquated proprietary systems. Unfortunately, some 3-D printing manufacturing companies began deviating from open-source principles and violating licenses for the detriment of the community. To determine if a pattern has emerged of companies patenting clearly open-source innovations, this study presents three case studies from the three primary regions of open-source 3-D printing development (EU, U.S. and China) as well as three aspects of 3-D printing technology (AM materials, an open-source 3-D printer, and core open-source 3-D printing concepts used in most 3-D printers). The results of this review have shown that non-inventing entities called patent parasites are patenting open-source inventions already well-established in the open source community and in the most egregious cases commercialized by one (or several) firms at the time of the patent filing. Patent parasites are able to patent open-source innovations by using a different language, vague patent titles and broad claims that encompass enormous swaths of widely diffused open-source innovation space. This practice poses a severe threat to innovation and several approaches to irradicate the threat are discussed.

Interspecific competition between herbivorous insects is a major selection pressure affecting the distribution, abundance, and structure of their populations. Facilitator-mediated interactions, such as mutualism, can influence competition. Furthermore, the temporal dynamics of competitive relationships affect the interaction’s outcome. Here, we re-evaluated the data on the competition for space between two herbivorous insects commonly known as scales (Toumeyella martinezae and Opuntiaspis philococcus) in either the presence or absence of Liometopum apiculatum (a mutualistic species of T. martinezae) and its variations over time. We selected 27 Myrtillocactus geometrizans plants on which the studied insects were present; the plants were classified into one of five different conditions: either of the scale species were present on the plant, without its competitor; T. martinezae with neither its mutualistic species nor the competitor; and both scale species competing in either presence or absence of the mutualistic species. We kept a photographic record of each condition, measured the size of (as an indicator of the development stage) and area occupied by the individual scales, estimated the total coverage of each scale species, and assessed their relative occupation of space and their competitive intensity. We found temporal variations in competitive intensity. T. martinezae occupied more space during the first months, whereas O. philococcus did so towards the end of the study period. The population structure changed over time and between species, affecting the competitive interactions. In conclusion, the dynamics of competition change over time, and the mutualistic species has a positive effect on T. martinezae when the scales are in competition. However, temporal variations resulting from changes in the life cycle of the scales allow the two competitors to coexist in the same place at the same time.

Semantic interoperability facilitates exchange and access of health data that is being documented in EHRs with various semantic features. In the EU, the regulation proposal of European health data space requires development of semantic interoperability. To achieve a fully integrated EHDS ecosystem leveraging the value of health data, stakeholders need to overcome challenges of implementing common standards and other semantic interoperability features. We aimed to research what scientific evidence is available on developing semantic interoperability. Our research questions focused specifically on key features and approaches for semantic interoperability and on possible benefits of these choices. For that purpose, we performed a systematic literature review by defining our study framework based on previous research. Our results consisted of 10 studies where data models, ontologies, terminologies, classifications, and standards were applied for building interoperability. Through increased access to interoperable patient information, a better quality and outcomes in care can be achieved. Better communication based on easily accessible data is facilitated between health professionals and between clinicians and the patients. When heading towards semantic harmonization as outlined in the EHDS proposal, more experiences and analyses are needed to assess how applicable the chosen solutions are for semantic interoperability of European health care data.

In this paper, we present the investigation results of radiation-induced effects in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) doped with moderate amounts of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) as a potential candidate for space-borne application. The samples were fabricated via the sputtering method at a working pressure of 3mTorr and a deposition temperature of 300oC. The ZnO samples were exposed to 1.25-MeV gamma-ray utilizing Co60 source, and their electronic response was measured at ionizing doses ranging from 10 kGy to 300 kGy. A comparative work was performed through finite element method to simulate the electronic response of the PN junction diode due to ionizing radiation. The results indicate that the ideality factor of the MOS diode increases as the ionizing dose increases, rendering it unsuitable for use as a diode. The degradation of the electrical parameters was also simulated, showing the increase in hole concentration. These findings suggest that the ejection of electrons occurred, which agrees with the gamma radiation effects trend. Furthermore, as the intensity of radiation increases, the spatial charge that arises from the separation of hole-electron pairs results in a substantial reduction of the electric field in the central portion of the n-type region. These findings provide insights into the degradation of electrical parameters in MOS devices under gamma radiation and have implications for their use in space-borne applications.

The quality of underground space information has become a major problem that endangers the safety of underground spaces. Currently, the main methods for the high-precision and long-distance transmission of detection information are radar and optical methods. However, in practical applications, we found that the radar method has the shortcomings of large energy loss and poor anti-jamming ability, which limit the accuracy of information data transmission and distance. The optical method has the shortcomings that the weather has a great impact on its accuracy and can only be applied to static objects above ground; therefore, it has the limitation of application objects and use environment. More importantly, the current high-precision information remote detection methods are limited to the detection of overground space objects and are not applicable to the detection of various information data in underground space. In this study, we analyze the spectral properties of the fractional differential operator and find that it is suitable for studying non-linear, non-causal, and non-stationary signals. The theory of fractional calculus is applied to the field of data processing, and a mathematical model of remote transmission and high-precision detection of information based on fractional difference is established, which realizes the functions of high-precision and remote detection of information. By fusing the information data to detect the mathematical model over a long distance and with high accuracy, a mathematical model for stratum data processing used to provide long-distance and high-accuracy data was established. Through application in engineering practice, the effectiveness of this method for underground space information data detection was verified.

Macrophages exhibit impaired phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, and cytokine production in space, hindering their ability to elicit immune responses. Considering that the combined effect of spaceflight microgravity and radiation is multiscale and multifactorial in nature, it is expected that contradictory findings are common in the field. This theory paper reanalyzes research on the macrophage spaceflight response across multiple timescales from seconds to weeks, and spatial scales from the molecular, intracellular, extracellular, to the physiological. Key findings include time-dependence of both pro-inflammatory activation and integrin expression. Here, we introduce the time-dependent, intracellular localization of MRTF-A as a hypothetical confounder of macrophage activation. We discuss the mechanosensitive MRTF-A/SRF pathway dependence on the actin cytoskeleton/nucleoskeleton, microtubules, membrane mechanoreceptors, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and intracellular/extracellular crosstalk. By adopting a multiscale perspective, this paper provides the first mechanistic answer for a three-decade-old question regarding impaired cytokine secretion in microgravity—and strengthens the connection between the recent advances in mechanobiology, microgravity, and the spaceflight immune response. Finally, we hypothesize MRTF involvement and complications in treating spaceflight-induced cardiovascular, skeletal, and immune disease.

As Christopher Alexander discovered, all space or matter – either organic or inorganic – has some degree of order in it according to its structure and arrangement. The order refers to a kind of structural character, called living structure, which is defined as a mathematical structure that consists of numerous substructures with an inherent hierarchy. Across the hierarchy, there are far more small substructures than large ones, while on each level of the hierarchy the substructures are more or less similar in size. In this paper we develop a new approach to representing geographic space as a hierarchy of recursively defined subspaces for computing the degree of order. A geographic space is first represented as a hierarchy of recursively defined subspaces, and all the subspaces are then topologically represented as a network for computing the degree of order of the geographic space, as well as that of its subspaces. Unlike conventional geographic representations, which are mechanical in nature, this new geographic representation is organic, conceived, and developed under the third view of space; that is, space is neither lifeless nor neutral, but a living structure capable of being more living or less living. Thus, the order can also be referred to as life, beauty, coherence, or harmony. We applied the new representation to three urban environments, 253 patterns, and 35 black-white strips to verify it and to demonstrate advantages of the new approach and the new kind of order. We further discuss the implications of the approach and the order on geographic information science and sustainable urban planning.

We propose a model for gravity based on the gravitational polarization of space. With this model, we can relate the density parameters within the Friedmann model, and show that dark matter is bound mass formed from massive dipoles set up within the vacuum surrounding ordinary matter. Aggregate matter induces a gravitational field within the surrounding space, which reinforces the original field. Dark energy, on the other hand, is the energy density associated with gravitational fields both for ordinary matter, and bound, or induced dipole matter. At high CBR temperatures, the cosmic susceptibility, induced by ordinary matter vanishes, as it is a smeared or average value for the cosmos as a whole. Even though gravitational dipoles do exist, no large scale alignment or ordering is possible. Our model assumes that space, i.e., the vacuum, is filled with a vast assembly (sea) of positive and negative mass particles having Planck mass, called planckions, which is based on extensive work by Winterberg. These original particles form a very stiff two component superfluid, where positive and negative mass species neutralize one another already at the submicroscopic level, leading to zero net mass, zero net gravitational pressure, and zero net entropy, for the undisturbed medium. It is theorized that the gravitational dipoles form from such material positive and negative particles, and moreover, this causes an intrinsic polarization of the vacuum for the universe as a whole. We calculate that in the present epoch, the smeared or average susceptibility of the cosmos equals, , and the overall resulting polarization equals, . Moreover, due to all the ordinary mass in the universe, made up of quarks and leptons, we calculate a net gravitational field having magnitude, . This smeared or average value permeates all of space, and can be deduced by any observer, irrespective of location within the universe. This net gravitational field is forced upon us by Gauss’s law, and although technically a surface gravitational field, it is argued that this surface, smeared value holds point for point in the observable universe. A complete theory of gravitational polarization is presented. In contrast to electrostatics, gravistatics leads to anti-screening of the original source field, increasing the original value, , to, , where is the induced or polarized field. In the present epoch, this leads to a bound mass, , where is the sum of all ordinary source matter in the universe, and equals the relative permittivity. A new radius, and new mass, for the observable universe is dictated by the density parameters in Friedmann's equation, and Gauss’s law. These lead to the very precise values, , and, , respectively, somewhat larger than current less accurate estimates.

A relationship between the functional Schr\"odinger representation and the precanonical quantization of a nonlinear scalar field theory is extended to arbitrary curved space-times. The canonical functional derivative Schr\"odinger equation is derived from the manifestly covariant precanonical Schr\"odinger equation in a singular limiting case when the ultraviolet parameter $\varkappa$ introduced by precanonical quantization is identified with the invariant delta-function at equal spatial points. In the same limiting case, the Schr\"odinger wave functional is expressed as the trace of the multidimensional product integral of Clifford-algebra-valued precanonical wave functions restricted to a certain field configuration. Thus the standard QFT in curved space-time in functional Schr\"odinger representation emerges from the precanonical formulation of quantum fields as a singular limiting case.

We have recently presented a unified quantum gravity theory [1]. Here we extend on that work and present an even simpler version of that theory. For about hundred years, modern physics has not been able to build a bridge between quantum mechanics and gravity. However, a solution may be found here; we present our quantum gravity theory, which is rooted in indivisible particles where matter and gravity are related to collisions and can be described by collision space-time. In this paper, we also show that we can formulate a quantum wave equation rooted in collision space-time, which is equivalent to mass and energy.The beauty of our theory is that most of the main equations that currently exist in physics are not changed (in terms of predictions), except at the Planck scale. The Planck scale is directly linked to gravity and gravity is, surprisingly, actually a Lorentz symmetry as well as a form of Heisenberg uncertainty break down at the Planck scale. Our theory gives a dramatic simplification of many physics formulas without altering the output predictions. The relativistic wave equation, the relativistic energy momentum relation, and Minkowski space can all be represented by simpler equations when we understand mass at a deeper level. This not attained at a cost, but rather a reflection of the benefit in having gravity and electromagnetism unified under the same theory.

The role of the submission was to find out what changes people think they need to make in their home because of getting older. At advanced age, the likelihood of different limitations such as vision impairment, hearing impairment or physical inability is increased. Currently, tenants are often forced to leave their long-term living space, as these spaces cannot serve “new” individual needs. This transition from the privacy of their home to the new environment often appears to be a painful change. They will not have a well-known environment because their homes cannot be adapted to their new needs. The aim is a comprehensive approach to the design of such an exterior and interior space which could serve people at all stages of their life, including the terms of mobility. This means that even if there is an unexpected situation and changes in movement abilities and physiological limitations of man, not only by natural aging, but according to accidents or disabilities we can adapt the living space to the given conditions. The survey results are presented in Germany and Slovakia. In the survey, respondents expressed their opinion on what they considered important in creating an adaptive environment considering various life changes. Results are processed graphically with explanation. The results could be of an interest to architects and designers of the environment. Based on the results of the questionnaire survey, studies of possible modifications of flats and houses were developed. The contribution brought these results to three age groups of respondents; people aged 35, 50 and over 50.

A hydrothermal technique with microwave heating (200 °C, 2 hours, 2 magnetrons, 2.45 GHz) was modified to obtain UV-C luminescent LaPO4: Pr3+ colloidal nanorods for the potential use in X-ray cancer theranostics. For further possible biofunctionalization, a compound of tartaric acid formed under basic conditions was used as a coating and stabilizing agent to provide colloidal properties to the surface of nanoparticles in basic to neutral aqueous media, which was confirmed by zeta potential measurements. In addition, the colloidal properties and clustering processes of synthesized LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods in aqueous solutions with different pH values were studied in real time using a highly sensitive laser ultramicroscope operating according to the “light-sheet” scheme. A comparative analysis of the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and high-energy spectroscopy showed the different effects of synthesis parameters on the morphological, crystalline and luminescent properties of the obtained nanorods. Through optimization of the synthesis parameters, stable aqueous solutions of m-LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods with sizes less than 30 nm and an intensity of UV-C luminescence equal to 5-10% of the unmodified nanofibers were obtained.

The Lobo reservoir designed to supply water to the Daloa city populations (Central west of Côte d'Ivoire) is facing the phenomenon of eutrophication due to the agricultural plots located upstream the reservoir inputs. Studies have highlighted the reservoir pollution and sedimentation problem. This study was initiated to provide a simple and effective solution to the eutrophication problem. The main objective is to determine the potential optimal dimensions of a grassed strip in order to limit the eutrophication phenomenon of the Lobo reservoir. The sizing of this grassed strip was done using the VFSMOD model. The flow from the pollution source plots was simulated and integrated into the model. The different scenarios tested from the band width variation have concerned the return periods of 1 and 2 years. The results obtained revealed that for the one-year return period, the grassed strip to be installed should have a width of 12.70 m in order to reduce by 70% the flow entering the strip considering the diffuse runoff over a length of 300 m. For the two-year return period, a width of 22.95 m should be required with the same length. The scenarios showed that a grassy strip width equal to 3 m should allow a reduction of 75% of upstream sediments.

Cystatin F (CstF) is a protease inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, including those involved in acti-vating the perforin/granzyme cytotoxic pathways. It is targeted to the endolysosomal pathway but can also be secreted to the extracellular milieu or endocytosed by bystander cells. CtsF was shown to be significantly increased in tuberculous pleurisy, and during HIV coinfection, pleural fluids display high viral loads. In human macrophages, we revealed a strong upregulation of CstF during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). CstF manipulation using RNA si-lencing led to increased proteolytic activity of lysosomal cathepsins, improving Mtb intracellular killing. Here, we investigate the impact of CstF depletion during coinfection of Mtb-infected mac-rophages with lymphocytes infected with HIV. Our results indicate that decreasing CstF released by phagocytes impacts the major pro-granzyme convertase cathepsin C of cytotoxic immune cells. Consequently, an observed increase of the granzyme B apoptotic effects leads to a significant re-duction in viral replication in HIV-infected lymphocytes. Overall, our results indicate a mecha-nism of Mtb/HIV evasion of the cytotoxic mediated pathogen killing driven by the ax-is CstF/ catC/granzymes contributing to this syndemic interaction. Ultimately, this knowledge can be crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches to control both pathogens based on manipulating CstF.

Extension of a derivation on a universally reversible JC-algebra A⊆B(H)_{sa} to the C*-algebra [A] generated by A in B(H) was studied by Upmier [20, Theorem 2.5]. In this article we study the extension of a Jordan derivation on a universally JC-algebra A to its universal enveloping real and complex C*-algebras R and U, respectively. Also, we establish the relationship between local derivations (resp., 2-local derivations, weak local derivations, weak-2-local derivations) of a universally JC-algebra A and the corresponding maps on its universal enveloping real and complex C*-algebras R and A, respectively.